Changes in the Neighborhood

The urban growth boundary is finally making itself felt in our neighborhood. We are seeing an incredible amount of infill, as there are currently around 20 new houses going up.

This smallish house once sat on a piece of land that was sold as five lots. The view from the house and gardens was amazing, but now they can probably only see the city from their top windows as there is a house directly below it.

This is the first house they built on the lot. It's a very nice modern house that fits well in the neighborhood, and had a great view until the house blow it was literally built right up against it. The million dollar view is now of the neighbors living room.

  

These are the second and third houses that were built on the original location. The house on the left is a nice looking house and they built it far enough down that they have a view and they didn't block the view of the neighbors above. The same can not be said for the house on the right. 

As you move down the hill there are a couple of new houses completed, where there will soon be another eight or so joining them. This once was an unused parking area surrounded by trees. The new houses are attractive, there just isn't much space around them.

Across the street is another new house with a second under construction. When the first one was built, I thought there was not enough space to squeeze another house in there, but, turns out I was wrong.

In another case of no space shall be left unbuilt upon, these neighbors sold their back yard, regretted it, but were unable to buy it back and now there is going to be a 5,000 sq. foot house going up. I imagine a house that large will take up every inch of this open space.

The next three pictures show the space where the remaining eight or so houses will be built over the next year. Again, the house designs are very nice, but not a lot of space, and probably another 20 cars that will be looking for parking spaces.

These two new builds are on the SE Belmont side of all the new houses, at the bottom right of the hill you were looking down in the last two pictures. We already have one neighbor trying to sell his backyard for development as you come up Belmont towards our house. I wonder how long it will be before we are totally hemmed in.

Last, and I am sure not least is the most interesting house of all. The house at 6659 SE Yamhill St. was built in 1910 and was occupied by the evangelist preacher John G. Lake for a few years in the 1920s. He is semi-famous for saying he say an angel on the path one morning as he was walking up to Mt. Tabor.

The garage was added in the 1950's and was the only solid part of the property. The rest was cracked foundation, broken windows and peeling paint.

The path going up past this house is not paved, but it is one of the thousands of unfinished "roads" in Portland that has to be maintained by a lawn mower.

This is the path up into Mt. Tabor park where John G. Lake says he saw the angel. About once a month, you can see a group of his followers holding a ceremony around this path or in front of the house. They have also been known to break off pieces of the house as keep sakes.

After a few days of heavy machinery at work, all that is left is one of the foundation walls.  I look forward to seeing what the new house looks like, I am sure it will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.