You might not know Powellhurst-Gilbert well, but it’s the Portland neighborhood with the most people. It’s also a culturally diverse place, and the neighborhood is, well, neighborly.
Powellhurst-Gilbert resident Peter Condra, an events manager at the Columbia Land Trust, and board co-chair of the nonprofit Green Lents, shared the inside scoop on what to know and where to go:
Boundaries: On the western edge is the Jade District along 82nd. Powell Butte is the eastern edge. The northern border is along Division, between southeast 82nd and 142nd, and the southern border runs between southeast 111th and 145th.
Downsides of the Neighborhood: Powellhurst has the highest food insecurity among its residents. It’s among the East Portland neighborhoods that are a heat island. “There was a higher level of mortality during the heat dome events from a couple of years ago,” says Condra.
And there’s at least one other serious health issue in the neighborhood. “For sure, it is convenient to have the 205 connecting you to the rest of the city and to the airport, but of course if you live along the 205 freeway, that's a big source of pollution,” says Condra.
Strengths of the Neighborhood: “There's so many incredible Asian and Eastern European restaurants and businesses out here, just one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated spots that are family-owned,” says Condra.
There are also huge parks, including Powell Butte and Kelly Butte.
Here are a few places to visit:
It’s one of eight memory gardens in the U.S., dedicated in 2002.
“It is designed specifically to meet the needs of people with memory disorders like Alzheimer's, and to provide respite for their caregivers,” says Condra. It includes plants with distinctive aromas.
“That's something that often triggers memories for people,” says Condra. “The circular pattern, restroom and the little monuments throughout it and the drinking fountain. And it was just designed with that in mind. And I find that super tender and sweet.”
Wildlife enjoy Powell Butte too! (Peter Condra)
“I can't say enough good things about that park,” says Condra. “It has old-growth forests surrounding this meadow in the center. That old growth forest was left because it was helpful to contain the cows that pastured in the dairy farm that used to be there.”
Visit for wildflowers in the spring and summer. Hike the trails in the 600-acre park.
“If you're coming over to my house, I'm going to stop there and pick up a bunch of deli food and some freshly baked bread on my way home, and that's what we're having,” says Condra.
Two items to get while you’re there:
- Korean carrots. “It is like string-cut carrots. And I would say the sauce they're in tastes like fenugreek and coriander and garlic and something sweet.”
- Prepared eggplant. “There's like at least 12 brands of things ranging from eggplant caviar — which is fire-roasted eggplant with onions — all the way to adjika sauce, featuring tomatoes and peppers.”
Plus, they have a little coffee shop, the Rough Russian Cafe, with gyros, crepes, and dumplings.
“It's small and brightly lit and very quiet, and you have to make your food together at the table,” says Condra, making an unexpected recommendation.
“So I actually recommend this as a bold choice for a first date,” he says. “You have to cooperate on making your food — if they don't pass that test, like, are they really worth a second date?”
Bonus: “The food is that good.”
