Neighborhood Focus–Sullivan’s Gulch

For my first Neighborhood Focus, I will start with my own–Sullivan’s Gulch.

One of the things I like most about Sullivan’s Gulch is the look on people’s faces when I tell them I live in Sullivan’s Gulch. The look says that they have no idea what I am talking about. I could say that I live between Irvington and Hollywood, but it is more fun to say I live in Sullivan’s Gulch. Makes it sound like I live in the Wild West.

In fact, Sullivan’s Gulch was a part of Portland’s Wild West in a way. It is named for Timothy Sullivan, one of the founders of Portland. He staked his claim in the 1850′s right about where Highway 84 crosses NE 28th Avenue. Little did Timothy know that his camp would one day be home to a big Fred Meyer!

But Sullivan’s Gulch has much more than a Fred Meyer store, of course. The main corridor is Broadway and that little stretch is home to many great little places, like Pets on Broadway, the Manhattan Cafe, Thatch Tiki Bar, and even a new store for jugglers! Another plus about the neighborhood is its close proximity to both the Hollywood and Lloyd Center MAX stations–so getting downtown is free, fast and easy.

The homes around Sullivan’s Gulch are gorgeous. There is a wide variety of arts and crafts bungalows, most of them surrounded by great landscaping and gardens. It is a nice mix of smaller affordable starter homes and grander estates.

Even if I didn’t live there, Sullivan’s Gulch would definitely be one of my favorite walking neighborhoods. Come check it out.