Rose City Park Property Management

Portland’s connection with roses is a rather unexpected one. It might seem odd that Portland is known as the City of Roses, given that the showy flowers are not native to the area and the city is not mainly known for producing world-famous rose breeds. The history goes back to Portland’s first world fair in 1905, called the Lewis and Clark Expedition. After landscaping the fairgrounds over two years with over 10,000 rose bushes, it became clear that these gorgeous flowers were a big hit. Capitalizing on the economic benefit of the world fair, Portland held its first Rose Festival two years later in 1907–and platted the Rose City Park neighborhood in the same year. Portland’s rosy relationship grew deeper when it played host to many rose breeds from England during World War I, offering them a refuge from the wartime bombings. 

True to the neighborhood’s name, thousands of rose bushes were once planted along Sandy Boulevard, Rose City Park’s central thoroughfare. Initially, Rose City Park had much more of a “country feel,” as Portland’s development had yet to pick up that far outside the central city. With all the green spaces and natural beauty that the east side of the river had to offer, that quickly began to change. In the modern-day, Rose City Park is a beautiful but developed area. While the rose bushes along Sandy Boulevard may no longer remain, the neighborhood remains richly steeped in history.

Rose City Park is a Northeast Portland neighborhood with a small-town feel. Bordered by Beaumont-Wilshire, Grant Park, and the Hollywood District on the west, Roseway and Madison South on the east, Cully to the north and Center to the south, Rose City Park is tucked away from downtown Portland while well-connected to all the east side of the river has to offer. On a tight 1.17 square mile plot, the neighborhood’s population stands at about 16,000. Portland’s bus network and the MAX both service Rose City Park, making access to the rest of Portland a breeze. Overall, Rose City Park is a beautiful and cozy neighborhood with lots of parks and a great family feel.

Considering that this neighborhood has “park” right in the name, it makes sense that the area has some lovely green spaces. Rose City Park itself is over a hundred years old, stretching back to its acquisition in 1920. This park has a play area, walking paths, picnic tables, and several sports fields. The Normandale Park, Frazer Park, and Rose City Golf Course also enjoy a history stretching back to the mid-1900s. At 14 acres, Normandale park is one of the largest in the neighborhood and includes a dog park along with a broader selection of athletic fields. The Rose City Golf Course is the largest green space in the area, coming in at a whopping 150 acres. Houses on the bluff above enjoy a lovely view of the tree-lined fairways and sloping greens.

Though the neighborhood may have come from more rustic roots, the Rose City Park of today boasts a number of excellent eateries and attractions. Fire on the Mountain is a laid-back joint for brews and wings (including the meatless variety) in truly massive quantities. You can sample some delicious Hawaiian cuisine and shaved ice at the Ohana Hawaiian Cafe, or go for Korean food at Du’s Grill. The Rose City Food Park is a great option for fans of food trucks, with a wide variety of street foods and a covered eating area. Don’t feel paralyzed by indecision–this food truck pod is a great way to sample many different cuisines from the fourteen different food trucks located here! There’s even a beer and wine garden for those who like to sip while they sup. Another perk of living in the Park is its proximity to the Hollywood district. With its abundance of local eateries, exciting shops, and historic theater, there’s always something to do just one neighborhood over.

You can find a wide variety of living spaces in Rose City Park, from modern apartments to mansions on the bluff. On most streets you’ll find a mixture of English cottages, Mid-Century, Craftsman Bungalows, and more. With Rose City Park’s long history, it’s unsurprising so many of the homes still retain their historic charms. Many houses still have built-in fireplaces, hardwood floors, arches, and picture moldings. Rather than tear-downs, you’ll find many restored older homes in this picturesque neighborhood. 

Due to the rising costs of homeownership, finding a rental is a far more affordable option for many would-be Rose City Park residents. When looking for a rental in the area, you can expect a wide range of prices. Though the average rent is around $1,345, it’s not uncommon to find a three or four-bedroom house going for $2,000-3,000 a month. In Rose City Park, two-thirds of all residences are owner-occupied. The limited amount of rental inventory as a result can contribute to making the market tight.

All the desirable elements of this neighborhood certainly make finding a suitable rental competitive. If you’re struggling to find your dream rental in the Rose City Park neighborhood, a property manager might be able to help. Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew has operated in the Portland metro area for years, helping connect tenants to their perfect rental. We pride ourselves on our excellent communication and people-focused business practices. You’ll never have to wait by the phone (or keyboard) after reaching out to us with a question or concern about your rental. We put our tenants and clients first, with no exceptions. If you’d like to learn more about the Rose City Park neighborhood or the fantastic rentals we have available there, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us through the contact form on our website or call or text us at (503) 515-3170.