The Overlook neighborhood, a close-in, close-knit community, offers access to everything families could want — parks, stores and restaurants and a quick drive or MAX train ride to downtown. There’s a mix of home types, with a remodeled three-bedroom, two-bath mid century ranch recently listed for $600,000. Willamette Boulevard is the curving northern border, and homes there boast dramatic views of the West Hills and Willamette River — and overlook the Swan Island Industrial area. And the I-5 freeway is the neighborhood’s current eastern border. However its construction in the early 1960s displaced scores of Black families. Overlook is considered part of the Albina district. In the 1930s it was a redlined area — one of the few neighborhoods in Portland where real estate agents and mortgage lenders would allow Black buyers to purchase homes. According to Whitewashing Albina’s Destruction, an article in the series Publishing Prejudice in which The Oregonian highlights its past complicity in systemic racism, by 1960 more than 80% of the city’s 15,500 Black residents lived in Albina. But the I-5 project forced many Overlook residents to move, the majority of them being Black property owners who were not paid fair prices for their homes.
While it took decades, the City of Portland has acknowledged how its past, racist, land-use planning contributed to racial segregation and loss of generational wealth for Black families. And it created the N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy to make amends and help displaced residents and their descendents connect with new, affordable rental housing (including Alberta Alive’s Dr. Darrell Millner Building with 63 family apartment homes, pictured above), opportunities for first-time homebuyers, and home retention programs. Find out more here.
What Neighbors Say
Connectedness and convenience are the biggest perks of the Overlook neighborhood, says resident Brittany Druffel. “It’s a true community with lots of families and wonderful neighbors that look out for each other,” she says. Druffel and her husband have lived in the neighborhood for five years and are the parents of 3-year-old twins, Rose and Wilbur. “I would absolutely recommend our neighborhood,” says Druffel. “It’s quiet while still being walkable to restaurants and shops. Neighbors are very friendly and care about one another. The central location is also very convenient.”
Play Here
Sporty families love the offerings at Overlook Park: basketball and volleyball courts, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields. Plus walking paths, a nature patch, a playground and an off-leash dog park. The neighbor-founded Beach Community Garden (pictured above) has been a point of pride in Overlook since it was featured in an episode of The Victory Garden in the 1980s.
One neighborhood event the Druffel family looks forward to is Porchfest, organized by the Overlook Neighborhood Association. During the weekend music festival held in the summer, neighbors lend their front porches to musicians. In 2025, Porchfest boasted 65 musical acts across more than 30 locations.
And the city is investing more in the neighborhood. Overlook’s high biking score may get even higher now that the North Ainsworth Street Greenway project is in the works to create safer conditions for families walking and biking. Plus Portland Parks & Recreation sought community feedback as it redevelops the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center into a site where the rich arts and cultural contributions of Portland’s Black community can be highlighted.
Eat Here
Neighbor Brittany Druffel says her family likes to head out for the Mediterranean street food at Spitz and Mexican offerings at La Bonita. “Milk Glass Mrkt is especially fun in the summer with their ice cream and wine window,” adds Druffel. And The Stacks Coffee House not only serves breakfast tacos and peppermint mochas, but houses a community library. Patrons can read books while sipping their coffees or take them home and bring them back later.
Live Here
$566,300: Median home price
$1,895: Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment
Source: Realtor.com and Zumper.com