About Portland's Downtown

Last September I wrote about the World’s Smallest Park “Mill End Park” in Portland, Oregon. I had some fun with it and my daughter, but today it really is sad. We have been having some major wind in the Portland area and that wind was enough to take out Mill End’s only tree. Despite the tree only being about two feet tall, the wind was enough to tip it over.

So, hopefully the city will be able to restore the tree and the park to all its small glory soon.

Now, this amazed me. Even though I write about Beaverton, Oregon, and Beaverton, Oregon, Real Estate, this park is actually in Portland. It amazed me so much when I heard about it I had to see it for myself.

As you know, my family is always on the lookout for parks to take the kids so we can tell other families about them. Well, when we came across Mill Ends Park on the list we knew it wouldn’t be much fun for the kids, but when it was named the smallest park in the world at only 452 square inches, we knew had to go to it and take a picture. Yes, 1 picture. Can you really take more than one if the park is only 452 square inches? Ok, I guess I could have walked to the other side of the park and taken a picture, but that seemed like overkill.

We asked the kids if they wanted to get out and play, but only one said yes. So, as you can see in the picture of the world’s smallest park, I think my littlest was a little disappointed in the promise of going to a park and getting this. Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon is a park, but by who's standards, and I’m still left wondering who spent the money on this one? When we got there, we did actually get some answers though. We got the answers from a sign that I think may actually be bigger than the park. 

OK, heck, I’ll do my review anyway. Not a good park for children, there is no playground equipment, no bathrooms, and even not great for parents as there is no place for them to sit and watch their kids play. Heck, if you leave the park, you are more than likely going to get run over by a car on busy Naito Parkway. So, if you are looking for a park to take your kids, avoid this one! (LOL)

Imagine it's the day after Thanksgiving and all the guests have left, you grab a leftover sandwich packed with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and lettuce and decide it's time to get ready for the next holiday.

Well as chance would have it, the tree lighting ceremony in downtown Portland has marked the beginning of the Christmas season for 26 years on the day after Thanksgiving (11/26). So grab your leftover sandwich and join the thousands of people that gather in Pioneer Square (701 SW 6th Ave) to celebrate the kick off of Christmas at 5:30pm.

The 75 foot tree is an amazing spectacle so bring the kids and make a day of it. There are lots of things to do downtown so have fun and feel free to join in with the community sing along.

To learn more about Loren or eXp Realty here.

Condo units are generally more challenging to stage than houses because of the logistics of elevators, restricted hours, loading zones, and long hallways. Our Portland home staging company has staged several units in the Eliot Tower and the experience at this building has been very positive for us and our clients.

Most recently we staged a condo unit on the 2nd floor which has a great feeling as it is just above street level and you feel like you are right in the city. This unit had previously been used as an office, and now that the owners wanted to sell it, staging it as a home was key.

We used a mix of furnishings and decor that would cater to the target buyer looking for upscale living in a downtown Portland high end building. Now it's just waiting for the perfect buyer!

Here are some before and after pictures.

Here is a larger image of the Living Room:

For more information about this property please contact
Leslie Hammond of Windermere at 503-497-5386

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This vacant condo was professionally staged by Synergy Staging. Join the Realtors, Investors, and Homeowners who call Synergy Staging to make their properties irresistible and sell quickly! Read what our clients have said about their experience with our company.

Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote so we can help your home sell faster.

Director Park Downtown Portland

Director Park is a beautiful urban public park, but sans the normal grass and trees of a typical "park." It was designed to be a street level oasis, which sits atop a 700 space, below-ground parking garage.

When condo develops, businesses, offices and entertainment complex (Fox Towers) warranted additional parking spaces for downtown, plans were set in motion.

Rather than build another hideous looking parking structure above ground, Director Park in Downtown Portland was designed, thankfully, to hide that under the rug Director Park.

At night Director Park lights up, and is all pretty basking in the illuminations. I'll try to get some nighttime pics, the glass canopy is amazing. The water feature (seen in the center, as the half-circle), is a beautiful backdrop.

The area used to be a city block of flat surface parking. In the corner was a food cart trailer: The Snow White House crêperie. Of all the things I miss now that the new Director Park as opened, is Snow White's crepes! The woman who operated the cart made the most delicious, filling eats! I don't know where she relocated to.

When you're there, it's hard to imagine the beneath you is a parking garage!

If you've never been to Director Park in Downtown Portland, is off the MAX line, easily accesible via public transportation. But, if you do drive in, you know where to park! Check out a flick at Fox Tower at Regal's Fox Tower, stroll to Violetta at Director Park cafe and coffee shop (SW corner of Director Park) and enjoy the newest, urban park in the center of the city!

For the details of Director Park Downtown Portland CLICK HERE