Neighborhood Blog: Brentwood-Darlington
Brentwood-Darlington: An Up and Coming Neighborhood in Southeast Portland
Set in charming Southeast Portland, the Brentwood-Darlington area is a family-focused and community-conscious neighborhood. Brentwood-Darlington is bordered by Lents to the east, Woodstock to the west, and Mt. Scott-Arleta to the north.
With home prices in this neighborhood averaging less than $300,000, Brentwood-Darlington is gaining attention from Millennials and other young Portland residents. Yet despite the neighborhood's trending status, Brentwood-Darlington remains one of the most comfortable and laid back areas in Portland.
Strong Community Ties in This Portland Neighborhood
As is the case with many other parts of Portland, the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood thrives on community. When couple Logan and Alyssa Dart moved in to their new Brentwood-Darlington home earlier this summer, they were touched by the palpable community ties. "When we went to pick up the keys, the very first thing we saw in front of our new house was the most adorable little welcome message from the kids that used to live here," said Alyssa Dart.
Other Brentwood-Darlington residents echo her sentiments. Jacob Sherman, the vice chairman for the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association, claims, “I think a lot of people recognize that our neighborhood is a very affordable and family-friendly place to live.”
Additional evidence of strong community roots in the neighborhood can be found by looking at the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association. Between newsletters, open forums for resident feedback, and an Annual Neighborhood Night Out Party, the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association strives to foster a family-friendly community.
Nature in the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood
One of the greatest draws to the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood is its expansive green space. As many Portland neighborhoods are becoming increasingly dense, Brentwood-Darlington has retained a commitment to providing its residents with access to plenty of outdoor recreation spaces.
Errol Heights Park is the neighborhood’s largest greenspace, with 1,477 households existing within a half-mile – a short walking distance. Recently, Amanda Fritz, Portland Parks Commissioner, shared that “she is designating $5.3 million in funding towards transforming Errol Heights Park into the hybrid natural area and developed park envisioned in the 2005 park Master Plan.” Brentwood City Park is also a popular outdoor space, as some Portland residents claim it’s one of the city’s best dog parks.
Brentwood-Darlington Schools
Brentwood-Darlington has established a reputation as a family-friendly Portland neighborhood. In large part, this is due to the number of Portland public schools in the area.
For elementary students, Brentwood-Darlington offers both Whitman Elementary School and Woodmere Elementary School. In terms of secondary schools, Brentwood-Darlington is home to Lane Middle School. Each of these Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood schools is praised for inclusivity and diversity.
One neighborhood parent praises Woodmere Elementary in particular, claiming Woodmere Elementary “is an undiscovered gem of a school that is rich in both socio-economic and cultural diversity… The SUN program is spectacular and being in a lower-income neighborhood provides several perks (such as free meals for all student body) and programs.”
As each school makes an effort to meet the needs of the community as well as the students, Brentwood-Darlington schools are great assets to the area.
Neighborhood Safety in Brentwood-Darlington
One of the factors keeping Brentwood-Darlington’s home costs low is the neighborhood’s safety. The area’s proximity to 82nd Avenue and the Spring Water Corridor does contribute to higher crime rates in the neighborhood, compared to other Portland neighborhoods. Yet, the residents and Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association recognize the need to keep the community safe.
At a recent neighborhood association meeting, the group addressed key safety concerns including lack of sidewalks, dilapidated house fronts, and crime on the streets. In small groups, residents talked about concerns, hopes, and solutions, and made plans to revive the neighborhood watch on certain blocks, and to form a community service committee to address much needed upkeep.
As a neighborhood dedicated to proactive safety measures, Brentwood-Darlington shows promise for improving its current crime rate.
Put Down Roots in the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood
As Portland grows and adapts, Brentwood-Darlington continues to emerge as an up-and-coming neighborhood. If you’re a first-time buyer, or if you’re on the hunt to relocate to a family-friendly area, you should start your search for a home in Brentwood-Darlington today.
You’ve Got Options: Leveraging the Mortgage Credit Certificate for Your Portland Home
Buying a home in Portland’s Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood or elsewhere in the city can present some difficulties, and we believe homebuyers deserve all the assistance they can get. With that in mind, we want to introduce you to a mortgage program that’s been around for decades: the Mortgage Credit Certificate, available through Options Financial. Much of the public remains unaware of the program, but taking advantage of it means potential money saving and tax credit benefits for you.
Many loan officers are also unaware of the savings that can be leveraged via the program for qualifying buyers. The Mortgage Credit Certificate requires special certification, which we have, and are able to provide to our clients.
If you haven’t owned a home in the previous three years, you meet certain income and purchase price restrictions, and you plan to live in your new Brentwood-Darlington home as your primary residence, you could qualify for substantial savings. Learn more about the Mortgage Credit Certificate from Options today.
