Lower East Burnside

Lower East Burnside: Lower East Burnside’s reputation as one of Portland’s less desirable neighborhoods changed almost literally overnight in 2003 when Skylab Architects teamed with local developers to transfigure a dilapidated mid-century motor inn into the Jupiter Hotel, an 80-room boutique hotel featuring the popular music venue Doug Fir, a stylish restaurant and bar, and a hair salon. Other popular night spots Ron Toms and Report Lounge rode on the coattails of Doug Fir, along with restaurants Biwa, Simpatica Dining Hall, and Le Pigeon, all of which are consistently named among the top restaurants in Pacific Northwest. This unique mix of eclectic nightlife and top-notch dining has become a preferred destination for Portland’s growing class of creative professionals, while daytime uses include vintage clothing and custom tailor shops, boutique retail, salons, and coffee shops.

The area’s Planned Burnside Bridgehead Project (located at the east end of the Burnside Bridge) is a rare opportunity to re-develop a landmark 4 acre mixed-use development in the Central Eastside with expansive views of downtown Portland and the Willamette River in a prime close-in location. The project was stalled last year after the primary developer Portland Development Commission (PDC) selected to develop the property, Opus NW, opted out of the project citing the economy as the primary driver of the decision. Since that time, the team that PDC had selected to co-develop the property with Opus NW, Beam Development, has taken the development reigns and plans to develop the project in the future. They and PDC are currently re-evaluating the scope and timing of the project.

Another major area development is the East Burnside/Couch Couplet, currently underway. This project will re-direct westbound traffic on East Burnside, 14th to 3rd, to Couch Street, which will become a two-lane one way thoroughfare. Eastbound traffic from 3rd to 14th on East Burnside will remain on Burnside, becoming a 3-lane one way thoroughfare. This $17.8 million improvement is slated to make the area more pedestrian, bike and auto friendly and create more accessible parking for area businesses.