As if the city didn’t have enough infrastructure to maintain, messy maples were planted in abundance; and this mess is tame to other areas.
@Cody nailed it.
I went through all the google map timeline pics for this spot, and I’m surprised that the largest structure is gone (by 2007 anyway) and the two smaller houses remain. Even more shocking, after Portland’s last twenty years of growth, especially in this inner Northeast neighborhood, that this parcel of land remains vacant–not a new space-squeezing condo or duplex–it’s just a humble yard for one of the smaller houses. Kudos to the owners who must have passed up many offers from developers. I also wonder why the large apartment-house was demolished. The 2017 google map pics give the clearest view:
The yard of the little house looked on the right looked better balanced in 1968. Bushes near most windows were shaped kept low as to not obstruct windows. The box plant yard borders were nice too. I would have planted camellia bushes up near the house on the left side of the entry – perhaps that’s what these are, but the flowers appear to be smaller in the photo. The trees/bushes in today’s photo are all planted too close to the house and they obstruct the nice features of this house.
The white ’66 C10 Chevy pickup with the camper shell would have been nice to own.
The pinkish 1951 Pontiac Chieftain coupe was a chromed beast.
My father once bought a two-tone ’56 Chevy Bel Air, like the one here with the intention of making it my first car, however, a drunk driver plowed into it on the street and it had to be totaled.
I, too, wondered why that big four square was reduced to an empty lot. Fire?
….and there always seems to be a volkswagon in these roadway pictures. In this one it is way in the back in what looks like a parking lot.
most interesting part of picture/ posts like this one is identifying the cars
Every “space-squeezing condo or duplex” adds another desperately needed home in this city.
The very nice big house might have burnt down, but that would have been a pretty big event for the neighborhood and would be documented somewhere. I think it is very likely that the house sustained foundation damage from the large tree planted too near the house and that it was just torn down because the damage was too costly to repair. Just an idea.
I lived in this neighborhood around 1990. It was still slowly decaying then. It’s come along in a big way. I really love the old churches too, as seen in recent photos of Eliot Neighborhood.
My son is grown up & has lived in L.A. for years. I used to take him to play at Dawson Park.
I still follow the VP blog, even after leaving portland forever, 6 months ago, after 33 years.
I am a big fan of old cars. Some of the old houses in this neighborhood had old 1950s TV sets abandoned on front porches!
@Scott My description of “space-squeezing” residential housing density was intended objectively, it is not a opinion statement, unlike yours, which also, intended or not, impugns my integrity. Your statement is unclear but it implies you strongly believe Portland needs homes for the houseless, or perhaps you support steady urban growth, or some other reason. Perhaps you are correct. However, in my opinion, the only reason to turn this green yard into housing is to protect the greater environments of Oregon via the Urban Growth Boundary laws. Personally, I do not believe Portland (or Earth) needs more houses or humans, but we should take far better care of the humans and houses we have.
Apologies if my wording of “space-squeezing condo or duplex” upset you. Please read my words, not read into them. I will apologize if I misspeak or am misunderstood, and I will admit if I offer opinion or make a factual error. Regrettably, we cannot edit or erase our comments once we submit them, which is why many of us put extra thought and care into ours.
@VPAdmin Thank you for your continued moderation of comments! This site has become far better without the political banter and unneeded negativity!
@VP Thank you for all your helpful, thoughtful, insightful and anecdotal comments, questions and research! Happy St. Patrick’s Day and happy Women’s History Month Oregon! Let’s all have a safe and super fun Spring Break!
The Pontiac is a 1954 Chieftain Deluxe Catalina hardtop.
Vintage Portland 
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5438135,-122.6603893,3a,90y,313.06h,90.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFe6INcnW11cupPJ289XFBw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
As if the city didn’t have enough infrastructure to maintain, messy maples were planted in abundance; and this mess is tame to other areas.
@Cody nailed it.
I went through all the google map timeline pics for this spot, and I’m surprised that the largest structure is gone (by 2007 anyway) and the two smaller houses remain. Even more shocking, after Portland’s last twenty years of growth, especially in this inner Northeast neighborhood, that this parcel of land remains vacant–not a new space-squeezing condo or duplex–it’s just a humble yard for one of the smaller houses. Kudos to the owners who must have passed up many offers from developers. I also wonder why the large apartment-house was demolished. The 2017 google map pics give the clearest view:
The yard of the little house looked on the right looked better balanced in 1968. Bushes near most windows were shaped kept low as to not obstruct windows. The box plant yard borders were nice too. I would have planted camellia bushes up near the house on the left side of the entry – perhaps that’s what these are, but the flowers appear to be smaller in the photo. The trees/bushes in today’s photo are all planted too close to the house and they obstruct the nice features of this house.
The white ’66 C10 Chevy pickup with the camper shell would have been nice to own.
The pinkish 1951 Pontiac Chieftain coupe was a chromed beast.
My father once bought a two-tone ’56 Chevy Bel Air, like the one here with the intention of making it my first car, however, a drunk driver plowed into it on the street and it had to be totaled.
I, too, wondered why that big four square was reduced to an empty lot. Fire?
….and there always seems to be a volkswagon in these roadway pictures. In this one it is way in the back in what looks like a parking lot.
most interesting part of picture/ posts like this one is identifying the cars
Every “space-squeezing condo or duplex” adds another desperately needed home in this city.
The very nice big house might have burnt down, but that would have been a pretty big event for the neighborhood and would be documented somewhere. I think it is very likely that the house sustained foundation damage from the large tree planted too near the house and that it was just torn down because the damage was too costly to repair. Just an idea.
I lived in this neighborhood around 1990. It was still slowly decaying then. It’s come along in a big way. I really love the old churches too, as seen in recent photos of Eliot Neighborhood.
My son is grown up & has lived in L.A. for years. I used to take him to play at Dawson Park.
I still follow the VP blog, even after leaving portland forever, 6 months ago, after 33 years.
I am a big fan of old cars. Some of the old houses in this neighborhood had old 1950s TV sets abandoned on front porches!
@Scott My description of “space-squeezing” residential housing density was intended objectively, it is not a opinion statement, unlike yours, which also, intended or not, impugns my integrity. Your statement is unclear but it implies you strongly believe Portland needs homes for the houseless, or perhaps you support steady urban growth, or some other reason. Perhaps you are correct. However, in my opinion, the only reason to turn this green yard into housing is to protect the greater environments of Oregon via the Urban Growth Boundary laws. Personally, I do not believe Portland (or Earth) needs more houses or humans, but we should take far better care of the humans and houses we have.
Apologies if my wording of “space-squeezing condo or duplex” upset you. Please read my words, not read into them. I will apologize if I misspeak or am misunderstood, and I will admit if I offer opinion or make a factual error. Regrettably, we cannot edit or erase our comments once we submit them, which is why many of us put extra thought and care into ours.
@VPAdmin Thank you for your continued moderation of comments! This site has become far better without the political banter and unneeded negativity!
@VP Thank you for all your helpful, thoughtful, insightful and anecdotal comments, questions and research! Happy St. Patrick’s Day and happy Women’s History Month Oregon! Let’s all have a safe and super fun Spring Break!
The Pontiac is a 1954 Chieftain Deluxe Catalina hardtop.