Leafy West Slope lies between downtown Portland and downtown Beaverton
Shadows from lush foliage dapple the winding residential streets of West Slope, located about 5 miles from both downtown Portland and downtown Beaverton. “Everybody helps everybody. I live in the area, and I have keys to everybody’s house, and then some, in the neighborhood. If somebody broke their leg, the casseroles come out,” says Sharon Fleming, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Bain who has about 13 years of experience and lives in the area.
Midcentury modern and ranch-style homes surrounded by foliage
Trees of varying species, sizes and colors shroud the homes in West Slope, forming a wall of foliage where a sidewalk could’ve been. Architectural styles in the community include Pacific Northwest contemporary and midcentury modern builds, as well as split-level and ranch-style houses. Largely constructed between the 1930s and the 1980s, these homes can fetch between $590,000 and $2 million, depending on their size. Some properties come on a full acre, and many have shaded patios or other outdoor living spaces.
“We had every intention of moving. This was our starter home when we moved here. Then the market fell, and when it started to pick back up again, our kids were in high school, so it didn’t make sense to move,” Fleming says. “After everything was said and done, three years ago, we ripped the back of our house off, took all the walls down and we made this beautiful midcentury modern home because we love this neighborhood so much. We don’t want to move.”
The Sunset Highway Trail connects bikers to several neighborhood parks
Several bike paths and lanes weave around West Slope’s green spaces. The Highway 26 Bike Trail largely follows its namesake thoroughfare for about 2 miles, starting at a commercial plaza east of the neighborhood and ending near Ridgewood Park. There, cyclists may rest on picnic benches located near a playground and a dog run. The bike trail also passes through West Sylvan Park, next to West Sylvan Middle School. A walking path encircles a pair of baseball diamonds, cutting between the fields and two tennis courts next to a playground. Pickleball courts and a bocce ball court were added to Ridgewood View Park in 2016.
Beaverton and Portland public schools serve students in West Slope
Children living in the western portion of West Slope may start their K-12 journeys at Ridgewood Elementary School and Cedar Park Middle School, both of which earn A-minus grades from Niche. They may then move forward to B-rated Beaverton High School, which offers Advanced Placement classes like AP Japanese, AP Chemistry and AP Drawing. All students are required to complete career-related learning experiences before graduation, and career pathways at the school include engineering, digital media, education and marketing, among others.
Students on the east side of the community are zoned for Portland Public Schools, starting with Bridlemile Elementary School and West Sylvan Middle School. Both score A-minus grades from Niche. They may conclude their secondary studies at A-rated Lincoln High School.
Games at Eastern Pearl Restaurant and longstanding West Slope eateries
Homes in West Slope are near a handful of casual eateries. Gerardi’s has been part of the community for about 40 years, and customers are known to cross state lines for their favorite order. Canyon Grill is located in what was once the city’s first Dairy Queen. Witty, retro-style posters bring personality to the restaurant’s walls, and a shaded patio invites diners to enjoy gourmet burgers and milkshakes outside. Patrons at Eastern Pearl can socialize over billiards, ping pong and shuffleboard after fueling up with flavors from China, Vietnam, Korea, Thailand and Japan. Trader Joe’s, Fred Meyer and Target are under 4 miles from the community.
Local thoroughfares lead to downtown Portland and downtown Beaverton
West Slope is conveniently located between Portland and Beaverton’s city centers. United States Route 26 leads east toward downtown Portland, which is about 6 miles away, while Southwest Canyon Road, also known as Oregon state Route 8, travels west toward downtown Beaverton, about 4 miles away. “You have a little more traffic noise from 26 and Canyon, but that’s nothing a fountain and some windchimes can’t fix,” Fleming says. “The convenience outweighs the road noise.” Oregon state Route 217 is also nearby, and it connects to Interstate 5. The TriMet system’s Bus 58 picks passengers up along Southwest Canyon Road and takes them to downtown Beaverton and downtown Portland.
Environmental Factors
West Slope and the surrounding area are at a relatively high risk for earthquakes, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
