Ladd's Addition | SE Portland Homes

ALL ABOUT

Ladd's Addition, located in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood, is one of the oldest residential districts in Portland. The district is about eight blocks (east-west) by ten blocks (north-south) and is bordered by SE Hawthorne, Division, 12th and 20th Streets. Known for its unconventional diagonal street pattern, even though this section of town is a busy, there is a lack of traffic that appeals to families. They get the quiet they’re seeking, a safe place for kids to play, and remain close-in to Portland’s attractions. Driving downtown takes less than 10 minutes; it’s a short drive down Hawthorne and over the bridge. More features of Ladd’s Addition is the mature American Elm trees that line the narrow streets, four small diamond-shaped test rose gardens, and the city sponsored bike path.

HISTORY

In 1891, early Portland mayor and banker William S. Ladd decided to subdivide his 126-acre farm for residential use and dedicated to the public an innovative Victorian plan for a "Residence Park." This plan was inspired by Pierre L’Enfant’s plan for Washington, D.C., including a diagonal "wagon wheel" arrangement, four small rose gardens, and a central traffic circle surrounding a park. This was at a time when Portland’s park system was in its infancy, and the community plan has kept Ladd’s Addition livable for over a century. In the 1980s the Ladd’s Circle plantings was renovated and volunteers planted over 400 trees from 1986-90 at a time when 40% of the original street trees had been lost. The entire Ladd’s Addition neighborhood was designated a historic district by the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Friends of Ladd’s Addition Gardens (FLAG)
This organization assists the city to maintain the parks since the district now hosts over 250 of its original American Elms and about 200 new disease-resistant elms. FLAG believes in keeping Ladd’s safe, healthy, and connected with good neighborhood relations. They host annual events for the entire community, like the Annual Neighborhood Picnic in July, or the Annual Holiday Party and Silent Auction. FLAG is always looking for community volunteers to help host events and help maintain the gardens and surrounding areas.

Longfellow’s Books
Family established and owned since 1980, Longfellow’s Books is a friendly and accommodating bookstore specializing in old-style social sciences and liberal arts, used, rare and antiquarian books. The owner and manager Jon has lived in Portland for over 50 years, and his family has lived in Ladd’s Addition for 30 so he and his bookstore have become an integral staple in the community. A person could spend hours browsing their large sections on Oregon, Literary First Editions, the Classics, or rare magazines (among other curiosities) but their hours are short; they only open for the afternoons, Monday through Saturday.

Adopt A Rose Bed
Help maintain the roses in one of the four rose gardens by adopting a rose bed, complete with instructions and snazzy designation medallion. Adopters select an available bed, and then maintain it throughout the summer by weeding and pruning. It’s a great way to get to know neighbor adopters and feel good about doing your part for the community.

Saturday Morning Deadheading Sessions
Considering there are over 3000 rose bushes in Ladd’s Addition, one Portland Parks Bureau gardener and small crew can’t do it all. That’s why every summer from June through September Ladd’s Addition residents participate in Saturday morning, and sometimes Wednesday evening, deadheading sessions to maintain the rose gardens and keep them looking their best. Everything is provided—garden tools, and pruning instructions—and the best part is that you can join your neighbors for whatever your schedule allows, whether it’s 20 minutes or an hour.

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

Johnny B’s
This family owned breakfast joint is straight from the 50s, from the tile floors to the little breakfast bar. You know, like the ones with a short order cook in the back kitchen wearing all white, and the waitress is chipper and happy. With it’s charm, lots of regulars visit for the perfectly golden and crispy hashbrowns, cinnamon batter pancakes, omelettes, and delicious biscuits and gravy. This place isn’t for the one trying to watch their calories, this is a straight up American-style breakfast café. They close at 2 p.m., have reasonable prices, and sit right on Hawthorne at the edge of Ladd’s Addition. Some say the best part is people watching, so get a newspaper or laptop and "pretend" to look busy while you’re waiting to break your fast. Who knows, you might become the regular soon too.
 
Palio’s Espresso and Dessert House
Palio’s is smack-dab right in the middle of Ladd’s Addition, and it’s the perfect place if you’re looking for a hideaway spot, need to write a late term paper, or want to hang with friends over a game of Scrabble and perfectly prepared Stumptown coffee. They also offer a variety of pastries and desserts, big bowls of soup perfect for a rainy day, and delicious Key Lime Pie in the summer. Some of the fun features: they are wonderfully vegan friendly, have a distinctive and special blend for their Mexican Mocha, and supply chess boards, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit cards and wi-fi, and importantly, sitting for any size group.

Artemis Café
Professional, friendly and efficient staff help to create a nice atmosphere for morning coffee or a business lunch. A popular wi-fi hangout, Artemis Cafe does wonders with their Stumptown medium and never ceases to procure amazing, innovative and, most importantly, delicious food. They have an in-house pastry chef, creative sandwiches like the grilled rosemary chicken with sun-dried tomato pesto and provolone, homemade soup, and daily specials. Most of their fresh food is organic and locally supplied, but if that's not enough, they practice sustainability and environmental responsibility, and welcome your own mug.
 

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