Neighborhood We Love: Beaumont-Wilshire

With a name that means “beautiful mountain” in French, the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood offers unsurprisingly lovely views of downtown Portland. That’s because the area, which was originally platted in 1910, sits atop the Alameda Ridge, a large gravel bar that runs above much of North and Southeast Portland.

Locals have long admired the beauty of the area. One of the focal points of the neighborhood is the nearly 12,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom Barnes Mansion at 3533 NE Klickitat St. 

Originally built in 1913 for Isabelle and Frank Barnes, the home was added to the National Register for Historic Places in 1983 after standing empty for many years. It also served as author Beverly Cleary’s inspiration for the haunted mansion in the Ramona Quimby series. (Fun fact: The Barnes’ also gave their name to main thoroughfare ​​Barnes Road, which connects Portland with the Tualatin Valley.)

The Barnes Mansion isn’t the only lovely home in the area, which has a medium home price of more than $770,000. Take it all in as you stroll the streets on your way to the equally lovely — and free to access — Wilshire Park. 

What Neighbors Say

Todd and Cindy Greene raised their three boys in Beaumont-Wilshire. And while two of the three are now away at college, they say it still is a great family neighborhood. “We moved in when (I was) five months pregnant with our youngest,” says Cindy. That youngest, Miles, is now in high school, while brothers Walker and Sam study in Virginia and California, respectively. But the holidays bring them back together. Every year, the family has a multi-generational Thanksgiving Day football game at Wilshire Park. “We love the park,” says Cindy. “When the kids were younger, we spent a lot of time in the playground, at the baseball field and on the soccer field.” The only thing that the Greene family would change? Stopping cars from going straight through Prescott Street on 37th Avenue. “Prescott takes a bend there and people traveling up or down 37th frequently don’t recognize what a blind corner that is.”

Play Here

At 14.4 acres, Wilshire Park offers a spacious retreat amid the residential streets of Beaumont-Wilshire. The play structure recently got a refresh in summer 2023; all of the wood was replaced and a new, stainless-steel slide installed. Kids also enjoy the multiple sports fields for soccer, softball and volleyball, not to mention the nature patch featuring flowering native plants to support pollinators.

And the physical education teacher at Alameda Elementary, Sam Balto, has received nationwide attention for organizing a “bike bus” for his students (pictured above). On Wednesdays, a large group of students ride their bikes together to school. Not only does it reduce pollution, increase a sense of community, and help kids get more physical activity — it’s pretty darn fun.

Eat Here

Beaumont-Wilshire’s main drag is Fremont Street, where you can find any number of eateries and boutiques. A few notable stops: Tacovore, breakfast hotspot Little Griddle and the always tasty Grand Central Bakery. 

If you venture a little farther east down Fremont (and into the borderlands of Beaumont-Wilshire and Roseway), you’ll also find iconic Portland hot wings destination Fire on the Mountain’s flagship brewery and the flagship location of the must-visit Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai. (Go on your birthday to get a free dozen.)

Live Here

$775,000: Median home price
$2,149: Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment 

Sources: Realtor and Zumper