While this roughly square-shaped, Northeast neighborhood may be overshadowed by its more well-known districts close by — Cully to the north and west and Rose City Park and Hollywood to the west — Roseway is steeped in history. Sandy Road-turned-Boulevard — named after the Sandy River — is the main thoroughfare that intersects the area and was originally a Native American trail. It then provided access to newcomers traversing the state on the Oregon Trail and a commercial route for farmers transporting their produce.
Scattered up and down the street are glimpses of Roseway’s rich past. There’s the independently-owned Fairley’s Pharmacy, built in 1913 and still serving the community’s prescription needs more than a century later (plus, the original soda fountain counter is still housed inside, now operating as Rosebridge Coffee, pictured above). Before an electrical fire claimed it, the Roseway Theater was also a neighborhood mainstay.
Today, Roseway is a comfortable mix of quiet residential and buzzing commercial. Neighbors are close (but not noise-nuisance close) to Portland International Airport and can easily hop on I-84 and I-205.
What Neighbors Say
Adam and Sherrie, with their 13-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son, and family pug, have lived in Roseway since 2005. “Roseway’s location and home values provide a great opportunity to purchase a home and grow our family in a neighborhood that is up and coming,” says Adam. In fact, the family loved their home so much, when their kids were younger and they wanted more square footage, they decided to pop the roof and add a second story so they could remain in the neighborhood. Most of the homes in Roseway are two-bedrooms and one-bathroom houses, so the addition gave them more space, and allowed them to raise their kids in the only place they’d known as home.
“It’s great to see new families moving into the neighborhood and I hope we can benefit from development in ways where it can enforce a stronger urban fabric,” he says, adding that the remodel of McDaniel High School, where his son attends, has been great for students.
“I like that Roseway is still a little unpolished and not developed, but seems like it has all the pieces to put the puzzle together,” says Adam. “Sandy Boulevard and 82nd (Avenue) offer a sense of movement, and Rocky Butte, McDaniel High School and Rose City Golf Course provide a sense of large, open green space that are lightly connected.”
The close proximity of 82nd Avenue can be tricky at times, he notes, but the family is hoping the city’s upgrades to the busy avenue will be positive for families. He also notes that Roseway winters can be breath-takingly windy (thanks to its closer proximity to the Columbia River), but he loves “the fact that our snow forts last a little bit longer than most neighborhoods.”
Play Here
For being one of Portland’s smaller neighborhoods, Roseway has not one, but two city parks. Glenhaven Park is popular with families year-round, from student teams practicing soccer and softball, to tweens and teens dropping in the bowls of the skate park, to littles enjoying the swings and slides. Glenhaven also has tennis courts and a community garden. Adjacent to Scott Elementary School is Wellington Park, another green space gem with an accessible playground, soccer field and picnic tables. For indoor fun, families love Nest Playground, which features a child-friendly rocking climbing wall, obstacle course and play structures. For the adults, there’s also a cafe and lounge, with free Wi-Fi. You’ll also find neighborhood regulars at the Gregory Heights Library. The public space has a well-kept kids area — complete with puzzles and coloring pages — and a large room for family storytimes. Thifters love pursuing the shelves and racks of ReRun 2. Pro tip: There’s a well-stocked kids’ section, filled with books, toys and clothes.
Eat Here
A stretch of the bustling Sandy Boulevard belts the middle of Roseway. It’s also where you’ll find several standout eateries. Pizza fans love Pizzeria Otto (pictured above), where traditional Neapolitan pies are fired in a wood oven. Pro tip: Visit from 11 am-5 pm and get a tasty margherita for only $9! Next door is El Burrito Azteca, a casual spot serving up hefty burritos, tacos with fresh tortillas and more, plus a kids’ menu with dishes for only $4.95. When Roseway neighbors need their pho fix, they dine at Mekha Restaurant. The restaurant is speedy with service, kid-friendly — there’s highchairs and “baby pho” on the menu — and filling. We love the pho ga with chicken and the grilled shrimp bowl.
In a doughnut lover’s city, Annie’s Donuts is modest and traditional, which makes it a neighborhood favorite. And you can’t beat the prices: less than $3 for old-fashioned cake and yeast doughnuts! For made-to-order sandwiches, salads, smoothies and more, Fresh Love is the place to go for a simple but very satisfying lunch. The parking lot is always packed at Bag O’ Crab, so you know its seafood game is on point. The chain restaurant is known for its flavorful seafood boils, and if your kids aren’t into peeling shrimp or cracking crab legs, the chicken tender and fries basket is a safe bet. They’ll also love the robot server.
Live Here
$558,500: Median home price
$2,000: Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment
Source: Realtor.com and Zumper.com
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