Irvington

HOMES FOR SALE IN IRVINGTON

Welcome to Irvington: one of Portland’s most gorgeous and highly-sought after neighborhoods in the Northeast area. This community was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. On the map, it’s a perfectly rectangular community in Northeast Portland, bounded by NE 7^th Avenue, NE Fremont Street, NE 26^th Avenue, and NE Broadway. On the ground, Irvington is a leafy enclave characterized by wide streets, quick access to parks, and high walkability.

Interested in Portland homes for sale in the Irvington neighborhood? This guide lays out everything you need to know about the community, including what makes Irvington a great place to live in Portland. Let’s get started.

IRVINGTON: AT A GLANCE

A slice of local history

Irvington occupies the northern section of the former William and Elizabeth Irving Donation Land Claim, established in 1851 by William Irving and his wife, Elizabeth. The couple later moved to British Columbia in 1859, leaving their land under the management of George Shaver, Elizabeth Irving’s brother-in-law.

Elizabeth later returned to Oregon in the 1870s upon the passing of her husband. She remarried, built a new home, and went about the business of selling parts of her land. By 1887, she had sold what would later become known as Irvington to real estate developers John Brazee, Ellis Hughes, and David P. Thompson. Irvington’s original plat of 129 rectangular blocks was laid out in October 1887.

As Portland grew on the west side of the river and the development of the Oregon Central Railroad continued, streetcar lines started to connect Irvington to downtown. Lot sales were opened, and Portland’s upper class took notice. The population and construction activity boomed well until 1913, when competing neighborhoods such as Eastmoreland and Laurelhurst attracted more attention.

Portland continued to grow, and Irvington retained its place as the central hub of East Portland as rail lines, commercial developments, and freeways grew around it. The cultural and ethnic makeup of the neighborhood became more diverse. By 1992, Irvington was made a local historic district.

In 2010, the community was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, making Irvington among the largest historic districts not only in Oregon but in the country. Irvington currently has a population of over 6,800 residents.

Location

Irvington covers less than a square mile of Northeast Portland, and is conveniently located near the city center. NE 15^th Avenue and NE Knott Street crisscross in the middle of the neighborhood, dividing Irvington into four smaller sections. Surrounding communities include Alameda, Sullivan’s Gulch, Boise-Eliot, Laurelhurst, Grant Park, and Beaumont-Wilshire. The Willamette River flows to the west of the neighborhood, dividing Portland’s East and West sections.

Accessibility is one of Irvington’s biggest draws. Downtown Portland is just across the river, about 10 minutes, or 3.6 miles away. Four bridges connect the two neighborhoods: Fremont Bridge, NW Broadway Bridge, Steel Bridge, and Burnside Bridge. Several major thoroughfares are also easily accessible from Irvington, such as Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, I-5, and I-405.

HOMES FOR SALE IN IRVINGTON, PORTLAND

Irvington’s housing market features properties that range from ultra-modern (with renovations undertaken on some of the original dwellings) to historical structures that take you back in time.

Homes for sale in Irvington, Portland are a showcase of different architectural styles rooted in classic and traditional design. Queen Anne homes dot Irvington, as do Craftsman Bungalows, and Colonial Revival residences. One thing is for sure— Irvington is a living museum of early 20^th century architecture.

Since Irvington is a designated National Historic District, design and building restrictions are enforced. This isn’t new to the neighborhood, for as early as the 1890s, Irvington already had one of the earliest covenants in Portland. Any new construction as well as exterior alterations must be reviewed and approved by Irvington’s Land Use Committee.

Reviews and restrictions aside, there are more perks to anticipate when purchasing homes for sale in Irvington, Portland— you may be eligible for certain tax incentives. One falls under the Oregon Special Assessment Program   while the other is the Federal Historic Property Tax Credit Program.

What is a typical home in Irvington like?

Many homes for sale in Irvington, Portland were built as early as the late 1800s through to the 1930s. Prices range from $300,000 to over $2.7 million. Majority of the housing stock consists of single-family homes, which include modest-sized residences to century mansions and luxury properties. Irvington is also home to a few small apartment buildings near NE Broadway.

LIVING IN IRVINGTON

Getting in and around Irvington

TriMet’s extensive bus services run through Irvington, most notably buses #8, #9, and #33. You can check the maps and schedules here.The entire neighborhood is also extremely walkable and bike-friendly.

Schools and universities

Irvington falls within the jurisdiction of Portland Public Schools. Several public and private schools are located in or around the neighborhood, including:

• Irvington Elementary School   at 1320 NE Brazee Located right in the heart of Irvington, this school is open to K-5 students. Irvington Elementary School is the 1932 reconstruction of the original Irvington School, which was built in 1905. It’s currently ranked among the top 30 elementary schools under PPS’s umbrella. The school is also an attraction of sorts, housing several Ed Quigley murals in the lobby.
• Harriet Tubman Middle School   at 2231 N Flint Only a short distance from Irvington, Tubman Middle serves students from grades 6 to 8.
• Grant High School   at 2245 NE 36^th Ranked as one of the best public high schools in Portland, Grant High School was established in 1924. The school is especially lauded for its academic and athletic programs. Grant High School also boasts an Advanced Placement (AP) participation of over 50%.

In terms of higher education, Irvington is only a short drive from notable local colleges and universities. Portland State University, the leading public research institution in Oregon, is only around four miles south of Irvington. Meanwhile, the private University of Portland   is located in the opposite direction, about six miles northwest of Irvington in the University Park neighborhood.

Parks and outdoor recreation

Irvington Park   is the local green space, located in the northwesternmost corner of the neighborhood. Within its 16 acres are a variety of amenities, including picnic tables, sports fields, dedicated play areas for children, and an off-leash area for dogs. In the summer, Irvington Park plays host to a few events, such as tree climbing activities and Portland’s annual Movies in the Park   series.

Located in southeast Irvington is The Irvington Club. Established in 1898, it’s a local gathering spot that offers tennis memberships as well as swimming facilities and lessons.

Other points of interest located near Irvington include:

• Grant Park, which covers over 19 acres of land between Irvington and Beaumont-Wilshire. The park was named after former U.S. president Ulysses Grant, who famously visited Portland three times during his tenure. Grant Park is especially noted for its outstanding sports facilities, including the Mark Cotton Field.
• Wilshire Park   in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood, about two miles northeast of One of the park’s main attractions is its nature patch, where community members tend to a small nursery of native plants. Wilshire Park spans over 14 acres and also features an off-leash area for dogs, sports fields, and paved/unpaved walking paths.

HISTORIC HOMES IN IRVINGTON

Irvington is home to over 28 historic houses individually listed on the National Register, including the following properties:

• Doernbecher House at 2323 NE Tillamook Built in 1903, it was originally owned by Frank Silas Doernbecher. He was the founder of the Doernbecher Furniture Company, one of the nation’s largest furniture manufacturers of its time. The Tudor Revival-style home, designed by Joseph Jacobberger, also features touches of the English Arts & Crafts movement.
• Povey House at 1312 NE Tillamook A short distance away from Doernbecher House, Povey House was constructed in 1891, making it one of the first homes built in Irvington. It is a preserved middle-class Victorian/Queen Anne-style residence designed by Peter Hobkirk.
• Lewis T. Gilliland House at 2229 NE Brazee Street. This is the only true Craftsman-style house in Portland, built by architect Ellis Lawrence from plans originally published in Gustav Stickley’s magazine, The Craftsman, in 1910. Lawrence went on to design other homes for prominent Portland residents and established the first School of Architecture at the University of Oregon.

Every spring, the Irvington Neighborhood Association hosts historic home tours. Check out the Irvington Home Tour   website for more information.

Food and drink in and around Irvington

While Irvington is mostly residential, there are a bevy of dining and drink spots located near the neighborhood, especially along NE Broadway. These include:

• Eb and Bean at 1425 NE Broadway. Looking for a place to cool down? Look no further than Eb and Bean, a frozen yogurt and soft serve All of their products are either plant-based or made with natural dairy. On the menu is a rotating roster of flavors based on the seasons, including classic vanilla bean, unique cardamom rose caramel, and exotic ube vanilla with coconut milk.
• Woodblock Chocolate at 1715 NE 17^th This couple-owned, high-end chocolate company has perfected the art of bean-to-bar craft chocolate. Everything is made within their Portland, Oregon manufactory. Visit their shop, where you can buy assorted milk bars to 70% dark mendicants. Within Woodblock Chocolate’s manufactory, check out Bons Amis, a room where you can try sublime wine and chocolate pairings.
• Morchella at 1315 NE Fremont Morchella serves modern takes on American classics, prepared with seasonal foraged and wild foods—a celebration of the best of the Pacific Northwest. They serve oysters, fried sunchoke puffs, and local seared rockfish, among others, promising a meal to remember.
• Milo’s City Café at 1325 NE Broadway An Irvington and Northeast Portland institution, Milo’s City Café has been serving brunch specials for over 20 years. As their tagline goes, “Everyone meets at Milo’s.” Apart from casual American fare, you can try building your signature Bloody Mary or mimosa.

Other delicious dining spots along Broadway include Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine & The Basil Bar, Aztec Willie’s Taqueria, and Pour Wine Bar & Bistro.

Where to shop in and around Irvington

The Irvington Farmers Market at 101 Main Street near the Old Croton Aqueduct trail is a sight to be seen. This is where community members come to support each other while enjoying local music. Even kids get to play through arts and crafts activities.

On offer are various goods and produce, including artisanal cheeses that pair with local honey, meat, and seafood and locally made glassware. Whether you’re preparing dinner that night, stocking up on pantry essentials, or looking for a new piece of home décor, you’ll find what you need at Irvington Farmers Market.

Several retailers and independent boutiques are also located near Irvington, such as:

• Amelia at 2230 NE Alberta Just outside the neighborhood, Amelia is a purveyor of women’s clothing and accessories. You get to support up-and-coming local designers as well as bag several chic pieces to add to your closet.
• Lloyd Center at 1405 Lloyd Center in the Lloyd District. It’s a community-centric mall where people shop, dine, and hang out. It houses about 100 businesses and is open 365 days a year. Lloyd Center also has an indoor ice rink. The complex is only less than a mile away from
• Cotton Cloud Natural Beds & Furniture at 701 NE Proudly local, this is where you can find new mattresses and sustainably made bed frames for your new home in Irvington. Apart from a wide variety of mattresses and beds to choose from, Cotton Cloud also has an extensive menu of eco-friendly pillows and other furniture to complete your bedrooms.
• Broadway Books at 1714 NE Broadway. Open from Tuesdays through Sundays, Broadway Books is one of the local stops if you’re in need of a new book to read (or gift). It’s also a 100% independently owned bookstore that hosts several book signings, launches, and
• Plants on Broadway at 2755 NE The local go-to for house plants, Plants on Broadway carries a beautiful selection of flora for different kinds of collectors and aspiring gardeners. Beginners can take their pick among low-maintenance plants, while advanced “plant parents” can find tools they need to propagate their favorites.

IS IRVINGTON YOUR IDEAL NEIGHBORHOOD?

I’m Ross Seligman, a full-time REALTOR® at Living Room Realty and leader of Team Own It Portland. Our team has decades of real estate experience dealing in Portland real estate.

I can show you around the community and, in the process, see some of the homes for sale in Irvington, Portland. An in-person tour is one of the best ways to get to know a neighborhood and decide if it matches your lifestyle and long-term goals.

I think Portland is the “land of opportunity,” and I aim to find you the home that fits your lifestyle. When you’re ready to explore Irvington, Portland homes for sale, give us a call at or .