East Portland’s Mid-Century Modern Neighborhoods

Little else altered the American landscape quite like the automobile. With homeowners no longer bound by fixed transportation or the need to live within walking distance of it, land-use patterns became much more diffuse during Portland’s post-war years.  By 1951, home shows, house plan books, and popular media lauded the ideal home as featuring at least three bedrooms and slightly more than 1,000 square feet -- an adaptation of a traditional housing style, if not a completely modern one.  Car ownership encouraged the creation of scattered development just outside of city limits, with serpentine streets and specialized zoning that prioritized residential use and large lots with deep setbacks. Garages were a must-have, with room for at least one, if not two, family cars.

This planning approach is supremely evident in the manicured mid-century neighborhoods of East Portland. Representing the aspirational nature of green suburbia and peaceful family life, these auto-centered enclaves feature single-story houses spread across wide lots, free from the space-saving confinements of the inner-city. Meant to be experienced from behind the wheel of a car, outdoor spaces in these neighborhoods are as integral to the mid-century experience as the homes themselves. 

Glendoveer

Custom-designed mid-century modern ranches constructed between 1950 and 1960 contribute to the unique character of the Glendoveer neighborhood, with its wooded setting, large lots and mature fir trees. Paul and Stina Stenzel platted the neighborhood in 1949, right next to the Glendoveer Golf Course which was built by Paul’s father, Franz, in 1925. At the time, it was the only 36-hole public course in Portland. The area was highly desirable and was even considered in the 1930s as a potential site for the Portland International Airport, as Glendoveer was considered to be “virtually fog free.” 

Early zoning requirements still in effect today limited uses within neighborhood limits to single-family houses, accessory buildings, home occupations, and public utility structures. Regulations also prescribed relatively large minimum lot sizes, with a minimum width of 70 feet, and minimum setbacks of 30 feet in the front, 25 feet in the rear, and 10 feet on the sides. 

Spacious residential development patterns, in comparison to much of the rest of Portland, were thus enshrined within a regulatory framework. Homes were sought after with assurances there would be no commercial space allowed. Each year lots became less available, but the environment of the golf course provided beautiful scenery. This well-maintained community became a quiet, serene suburb minutes away from Portland, with a public golf course at its center. 

Lorene Park

A reference to the Lorene Park subdivision first appeared in The Oregonian on August 9, 1953. That day’s paper included a large ad (pictured) promoting “luxury living” in a new community designed by builders A.E. Hodges and G.A. Wilson for developer Lloyd Franzen.

Lloyd Franzen was born in Chehalis, Washington, but eventually moved with his family to Portland where he married Corriene La Follette in 1916. A short time after their marriage, they moved to acreage at NE 107th and Glisan Street. Franzen developed this land into a peach orchard that later became a local landmark. As population pressures increased, he saw an opportunity to develop the area into a residential subdivision known as Lorene Park, a derivative of the names Lloyd and Corriene.

Today, Lorene Park remains recognizable as a mid-50s neighborhood of modern, ranch-style homes.

This smaller development has generously-sized and handsomely appointed spec houses that, when built, were subject to the same types of regulations as Glendoveer. One covenant specifically read that “The ground floor of the main structure, exclusive of one story open porches and garages, shall not be less than 900 square feet in the case of a one-story structure nor less than 900 square feet in the case of a none and one-half or two-story structure.” The neighborhood’s uniformity is striking throughout its hip-roofed, Roman-bricked, two-car garaged, pom-pom tree-lined streets.

Argay Terrace

Argay Terrace is the largest tract of mid-century development in East Portland, with about 400+ homes. It was developed from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. Originally conceived of by Art Simonson and Gerhardt (Gay) Stabney (the “Ar” and “Gay” of Argay) as a “move-up” suburban family neighborhood alternative to Portland’s congested inner-city,Argay Terrace built out as planned with spacious, better-quality homes on large lots spread out over gently sloping terrain that gives the area an open feeling. Many of the homes have stunning views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens.

Street design in this neighborhood minimizes traffic by limiting access from arterials and via a pattern that features many short, curvilinear streets and cul-de-sacs. The landscape here is a standout, with under-grounded utilities and a series of communal greenways.

Regency Park

A hidden gem of only six streets, Regency Park will take you back in time. Similar to Argay Terrace, it has curvilinear streets and under-grounded utilities. This quaint neighborhood is set against the lush backdrop of Glendoveer Golf Course. While slightly outside of the time frame (1967 – 1975+) for mid century, it is nonetheless a planned neighborhood with a variety of home types that are midcentury in their design approach.

The Mid-Century Modern Driving Tour has been rescheduled until November 2021.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our Mid-Century Modern Driving Tour: Summer 2021 has been rescheduled to November. Stay tuned for more information on ticket sales, but all fun details remain as follows:

When: November 2021

Where: East Portland

Cost: $40, includes a $25 donation to Restore Oregon

Hit the road with Restore Oregon for an interactive self-propelled tour to explore the mid-century suburban growth of East Portland and see how landscapes changed for suburban homes during that time period.

Inner courtyards, public greenways, and curated yards abound throughout Lorene Park, Argay Terrace, Regency Park, and Glendoveer East. Spot architect-designed homes along the way and get sneak peeks of never-before-seen interiors from the safety and comfort of your own car, bike or rollerblades. 

Stay tuned for more information!