This charming 1892 farmhouse of beloved PDX cookbook author Martha Holmberg just hit the market so today we’re doing the tour of the beautiful home, its dreamy yard and the friendly North Portland neighborhood.

The Home

Amazing house for entertaining with easy flow inside & out! 3 bed, 1.5 bath updated farmhouse in North Portland on a sun-drenched corner (with nonconforming 2 bed, 1 bath apartment below). Open layout turns on the charm: Oak floors, exposed beams, wall paneling, mini-library, kitchen island. French doors to the balcony off the main bedroom. Updates galore: paint, appliances & more! Detached garage wired & plumbed with endless possibilities (art studio/home office).

Upper level:

Lower level apartment:

The Yard

New, new, new!

New cedar deck amid dreamy space for garden parties. New landscaping, front and side yards, with decomposed granite surface, golden granite flagstone, grill. (Learn about decomposed granite here.) Newly-built cedar raised bed planters. New plantings in the front concrete planter: Hanoki cedar, redstick dogwoods, various hebbe, Japanese forest grass. New planter box around black cap raspberry bushes. New front fence & privacy gate. Newly painted front porch railings. New sidewalk on both sides!

According to Eugene E. Snyder in Portland Names and Neighborhoods, the designers of University Park were Methodist Episcopal officials who aligned streets along a northeast – southwest axis and a northwest – southeast axis in order to maximize exposure to sunlight. This is evident in this home’s fabulous yard….

The Neighborhood

Peaceful neighborhood with easy access to U of Portland, parks, downtown, Sauvie Island & I-5.

The University of Portland brings a youthful bustle to the area with students living alongside young families and older established households. Martha says there are, “Lots of dog walkers, joggers, bikers. Everyone waves and stops to
chat. Great neighbors always ready to lend a hand.”

When not eating herbs and fruits harvested from your own yard (!) the closest food spots can be found along N Lombard: Taquitos at Cha! Cha! Cha! Taqueria, pho and boba tea at Sassy Souk’s, burgers and fries on the dog-friendly patio of the Twilight Room on game day. Plus, groceries at nearby New Seasons. And 2 miles to the west puts you in St. Johns’ foodie row or at a Cathedral Park picnic!

Parks in University Park proper include neighborhood spots with playgrounds and sports fields like McKenna Park and Portsmouth Park. Plus there are the mega views to be had at Columbia Annex overlooking the Willamette to all of downtown.

University Park is a great hub for cyclists with the bike lanes along Willamette Blvd connecting you to Greeley and the Broadway Bridge/downtown PDX to the southeast or head NW on Willamette to get to Cathedral Park, St. Johns or 6.5 miles to Sauvie Island for a scenic adventure.

5 total beds | 3 total baths| 3,257 SF

Offered at $659,000
4742 N Syracuse St Portland, OR 97203

Full open house & listing details here.