Getting Around the Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood in SE Portland
From FoPo Down to Brooklyn, There’s so Much Going on in this Neighborhood
Southeast Portland’s Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood has been on the rise for some time now. One of the last truly affordable neighborhoods to relocate to in the Northwest’s no-longer best kept secret city, this area, situated between SE 26th Avenue and Foster Boulevard and between Powell Boulevard and SE Holgate, is a treasure trove of livability.
With scores of great shops, restaurants, and watering holes (for coffee, tea, kombucha, and adult beverages) dotting all four of its boundary streets; and exciting shopping, dining, and entertainment options on both of the streets that bisect the neighborhood (Gladstone and 39th); plus a couple of the city’s lesser known but gorgeous parks and some other fantastic amenities, this is definitely a neighborhood worth looking into.
General Livability in the Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood
Creston-Kenilworth measures up relatively well in terms of its walk score (seventy-seven) and has a terrific bike score (ninety-five). It isn’t the most transit-friendly neighborhood in the city, with a transit score of just fifty-three. But, with so many compelling amenities in the neighborhood and relative proximity to bustling districts along Foster, Powell, Division, and Woodstock within a quick walk or bike ride, you may never need transit to get you to your destination.
Rents and median home prices in the neighborhood are among the most affordable in central Portland, and the neighborhood is within easy reach of several nearby highways and freeways that can take its residents quickly out of town, or to any part of the city or region.
Schools, Parks, and Other Amenities
Neighborhood schools include the recently remodeled and expanded Franklin High School and Cleveland High School, both of which lie just outside the neighborhood’s boundaries and are both well-ranked state-wide. Elementary and middle schools serving the neighborhood include Richmond Elementary School, Winterhaven School, and Creston School.
The neighborhood has two large public parks, Creston Park at SE Powell and 43rd and Kenilworth Park at SE 32nd and Holgate, and it also abuts Powell Park at SE 26th and Powell. Creston-Kenilworth is also within easy reach of the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and Powell Butte Nature Park for residents looking for a larger park experience.
Restaurants, Shops, and Bars
This neighborhood is one of few in the Portland metro area that can boast having its own Trader Joe’s (the first one in the city). Other nearby grocery shopping includes a Safeway at 39th and Powell, and a New Seasons on SE Woodstock and 45th. There are also more boutiques and niche restaurants, bars, and coffee shops lining the major streets that border and cut through this neighborhood than can be found in many cities throughout North America.
Of particular note are the Hopwork’s Urban Brewery at SE Powell and 29th, Shut Up and Eat sandwich shop at SE Cesar Chavez and Gladstone, and the pinball wonderland that is C Bar at 29th and Gladstone. For super fun people-watching and boutique shopping, the nearby Foster, Woodstock, and Division districts are neighborhood residents’ best bets.
Creston-Kenilworth Is One of SE Portland’s Great Neighborhoods
Creston-Kenilworth, with a median home value that hovers between two and three-hundred thousand dollars, is one of inner Portland’s best bets for young families and young professionals looking to find a home to purchase. It is also one of Portland’s most diverse neighborhoods and enjoys some of the inner city’s lowest rent prices and quick and easy access to great amenities.
Ready to start looking for your dream home in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood? Urban Nest agents are here to help, so get in touch today!
[image via: Finetooth]