For decades, Northeast Portland’s Concordia neighborhood was one of the most rundown areas in the city. Thanks to urban renewal efforts it’s now one of the most vibrant NE areas PDX has to offer, largely due to the exceptional diversity the neighborhood boasts, with many African-American and Latino-owned businesses calling the area home. Also central to the growth of the Concordia neighborhood is the thriving Alberta Arts District, famous for 15 blocks of eclectic coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, bookstores, artisan storefronts, and service businesses.
Neighborhood Real Estate
The dense suburban feel, varied local commerce, and great walkability in many parts of this expansive neighborhood have invigorated the real estate market in Concordia with families, singles, and retirees alike seeking out the strong community vibe.
Although the neighborhood has seen an increase in real estate prices, matching trends in Portland overall, it’s still possible to land a blank slate in Concordia with the occasional plot coming up for sale for a couple hundred thousand dollars as homeowners divide larger properties. Of course, the market swings equally far in the other direction with higher-end homes priced into the mid-to-high $800,000’s. However, Concordia’s median home value lands right around $367,000.
Concordia Community
An active Concordia Neighborhood Association does its part to ensure locals are aware of the numerous community events happening on a regular basis. With everything from Time Together at Cerimon House where folks are invited to “gather, knit, craft, fold, chat, be.” to FEAST (Forget Everything & Sing Together) Community Choir welcoming new singers to this “acapella choir with the goal to build community” and everything in between. Concordia is most popular in the summers with the Alberta Street Fair and the Last Thursday Arts Walk gathering people from all over the city to enjoy food, music, and art in the streets.
Concordia Lifestyle
Like most Portland neighborhoods, green space per capita is high, with the beautiful and expansive Fernhill and Alberta parks gracing the area. Fernhill is a massive 24-acre park with community softball and baseball diamonds, soccer and football fields, tennis courts, and a volleyball court. The park also has horseshoe pits, a running track, a playground, and a summertime kiddie pool, as well as picnic tables and an off-leash dog park. Fernhill also hosts a series of free live concerts in the summer on the expansive green lawn. Alberta Park is 17-with a baseball diamond, football and soccer fields, a covered basketball court, two tennis courts, and a playground. The park also includes a picnic area and a walking trail throughout.
A great example of the neighborhood’s renewal over the decades, locally famous Kennedy School was built in 1915 and served as a neighborhood Elementary School. As the neighborhood faced economic downturn, however, the school was left vacant until the 1990s when the McMenamins group purchased and renovated the building, turning it into a 57-room hotel with its own brewery, movie theater, bar, outdoor saltwater soaking pool, and restaurant complete with an outdoor courtyard and fireplace. (Neighbors and other Portland locals know Kennedy School’s soaking pool is one of PDX’s best-kept secrets with a one-hour soak available weekdays for just five dollars.)
Concordia Neighborhood Schools
Concordia students are served by the Portland Public School system through the following schools: Rigler Elementary School (public, K-5), Vernon (public, K-8), Faubion (public, K-8), Joseph L. Meek Professional Technical High School (public, 9-12), Jefferson High School (public, 9-12), Madison High School (public, 9-12). The namesake of the neighborhood, the University of Concordia, is a private liberal arts college that has central to the neighborhood since 1905. [Update 2/2020: After 115 years, Concordia University in Northeast Portland will close its doors at the end of the 2020 spring term.]
If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in the Concordia area or any other Oregon or Washington neighborhood) or you just want to know what you qualify for, I’d love to help! I’d love the opportunity to discuss your home-ownership goals, answer any questions, and crunch the numbers so we know what you qualify for. Feel free to drop by my office at 1238 NW Glisan Suite A in Portland’s Pearl District, shoot me an email, or give me a call anytime at (971) 404-9844.