444 7th St, Portland, OR 97034

The First Addition Neighborhood of Lake Oswego, Oregon, has what many communities seek: a small-town atmosphere, services and shopping within walking distance, and residents' commitment to a set of common priorities. The American Planning Association has selected the First Addition neighborhood as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods in America for its dedication to community values and priorities, to both capitalize on the values of the past and plan to ensure quality of life for the community into the future. One of Lake Oswego's oldest neighborhoods, platted in 1888 and 1925, the First Addition has the character and feel of a small-town. Gothic, Prairie Tudor, Craftsman, bungalow, and ranch are among the single-family housing styles in the neighborhood that also has a mixture of multifamily, duplex, and accessory dwelling units. To ensure the existing character and style remains, residents have worked with municipal officials to adopt design guidelines for new development and residential additions. Also in place is special landscaping to control stormwater runoff. Home to a collection of unpretentious and eclectic homes, some dating to just prior to the turn of the 20th century, the First Addition neighborhood is a cohesive artifact of the era and circumstances from which it sprang: the need to house workers of the Oregon Iron and Steel Company. Compact enough that the neighborhood can be traversed end-to-end on foot, First Addition has its own grocery store, adult community center, elementary school, and library. There are also a post office, police and fire stations, three churches, and a mixed-use retail, commercial, and service area nearby. Residential blocks are divided lengthwise by 20-foot alleys that provide rear access to homes for off-street parking, trash removal, and services. Matching the neighborhood's convenience is its physical beauty and striking array of flora (just to the north and west is the 650-acre Tryon Creek State Natural Area).