Welcome to the Neighborhood! This is part 4 of our 5-part Portland neighborhood series where we are exploring some of our favorite neighborhoods this city has to offer! We’ll share reasons why we love them, insights on their history, and showcase some of our favorite projects we’ve done in these areas.
Today’s featured neighborhood: Mt Tabor!
Just nine miles away from the bustling downtown area is the quiet and quaint neighborhood of Mt Tabor. The area feels separate from the hustle and bustle, but still provides easy access to commuters journeying into the heart of the city. Tucked amongst the trees and with a huge nature park in the middle, Mt Tabor is perfect for young and old to feel connected with the outdoors and enjoy the beauty Oregon has to offer.
While the area has evolved over the past 173 years, this sentiment has always been a core of the Mt Tabor area.
THE HISTORY
Originally settled in 1850, the area was originally a small rural farming community. By 1903, local leaders, including John C. Olmstead, voted to preserve an area of the growing community for a public park – and the city bought 40 plats for this new park in 1909.
Photo: Souvenir of Western Women
Mt Tabor started to become a peaceful destination in order to escape from the city. Many people believed that breathing the fresh air in the area would help fix a plethora of ailments. This included physicians, who made Mt Tabor the site for the city’s sanitarium, hoping the proximity to nature and the fresh air would help their patients.
During construction of parkways in 1913, a team of road builders found traces of volcanic cylinders along the side of the mountain. Researchers discovered that the community had been built along the side of a once active volcano, making Portland one of only six cities across the US to with an extinct volcano within its city limits.
Photo: Mt Tabor Park / Credit: Historical Society Research Library
A short distance from our office on 27th and Belmont, the Mt Tabor neighborhood has always been a favorite of ours to work in. Let’s take a look at some of our projects in the area!
THE PROJECTS
1906 Mt Tabor Craftsman Kitchen
This couple contacted us wanting a Pacific Northwest Craftsman feeling kitchen. A previous 1990s remodel left the kitchen feeling disconnected from the of the house. It also lacked adequate closed storage and a workable layout. With new white oak stained cabinets, soapstone countertops, and a new layout with zones for prep, cooking, and clean up, we stayed true to the character of the home while also updating it for modern day living.
1911 Mt Tabor Kitchen
This family of four needed more storage and a better workflow. An awkward range/island layout gave them little room for food prep and unusable seating. Our remodel created not one, but two peninsulas with seating to enjoy any meal of the day. We also incorporated a large panty and desk area. The new layout gives them an abundance of countertop space, storage, and great access to their back deck with new French doors.
1913 Tabor Hill House
When this couple purchased this house, they knew it had good bones. But years and years of paint and poor remodel decisions hid the true splendor of this home. With the whole house remodel, we were able to uncover the gold mine of flat stock Fir trim, reimagine the fireplace, reconfigure the kitchen and all the bathrooms, as well as finish out the basement. We kept with traditional materials to make this beauty shine!
If you have an old home you would like to renovate and want local experts to help, you can reach us by filling out our online form (under Contact Us). We would love to work with you!
Historical information source:
Mount Tabor Park by Kathy Tucker (https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mt_tabor_park/)
Mount Tabor Portland – Everything you need to know by Mike Devenport (https://pdxmovers.com/blog/mount-tabor-portland-or/)
