SOUTH WATERFRONT · PORTLAND

South Waterfront

6 spots to discover in this neighborhood

“River-edge towers. Aerial Tram + OHSU campus.”

~3,500 residents · Neighbors West/Northwest · MAX Orange Line at SW Moody. Portland Aerial Tram to OHSU. Streetcar B Loop.

Triangle hood
Bike-friendly
Up-and-coming
Walkable corridor
Eclectic eats

LIVE ACTIVITY

Avg Rating

4.6

Average across 6 businesses

Reviews

10,789

Across 6 businesses

Open Now

4 Live

Right now

Top Categories

Shops 2
Museums 1
Cafes 1

NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY

What South Waterfront Is Known For

“River-edge towers. Aerial Tram + OHSU campus.”

Foster corridor

Triangle loop

Local evening

“River-edge towers. Aerial Tram + OHSU campus.”

— South Waterfront, Portland

The Vibe

What South Waterfront Feels Like

Modern riverfront high-rise district

South Waterfront is modern, sleek, and vertical, a district of glass towers set against the river and the West Hills. The aerial tram glides overhead, the streetcar runs through, and a riverfront greenway invites walking and biking.

It has a contemporary, planned feel, oriented around the OHSU campus, medical and tech jobs, and high-rise living. The neighborhood draws those who want brand-new, amenity-rich urban housing with river views and strong transit links.

History

How South Waterfront Came To Be

South Waterfront is one of Portland's newest neighborhoods, rising in the early twenty-first century on former industrial and brownfield land along the Willamette River just south of downtown. Where shipyards and manufacturing once stood, planners envisioned a dense, transit-oriented district of high-rise residential towers.

Development accelerated with the arrival of the Portland Aerial Tram in 2007, which links the riverfront to the Oregon Health & Science University campus on the hill above, spurring a wave of medical, research, and residential construction. The streetcar, riverfront greenway, and new towers followed.

In a short span South Waterfront transformed from vacant industrial ground into a gleaming district of glass towers, becoming a hub of medical and academic activity and one of the most rapidly built neighborhoods in the city's history.

Character

What Defines South Waterfront

Portland Aerial Tram

The tram connects the waterfront to OHSU's hilltop campus, a signature feature of the neighborhood.

Riverfront greenway

A waterfront path along the Willamette offers walking, biking, and river access.

OHSU presence

Oregon Health & Science University's expanding campus anchors the district's medical and research activity.

Businesses

83%

Verified

4.6

Avg Rating

Services

Top Category

Categories in South Waterfront

Services

3 Arts

1 Coffee

1 Professional

Services 3 Arts 1 Coffee 1 Professional 1

Landmarks

Notable Places in South Waterfront

Portland Aerial Tram

An aerial tramway connecting the South Waterfront to OHSU's hilltop campus on Marquam Hill.

OHSU Center for Health & Healing

A major Oregon Health & Science University medical and research complex anchoring the district.

Willamette River Greenway

A riverfront trail and park system running along the South Waterfront's eastern edge.

Tilikum Crossing

A car-free bridge for transit, cyclists, and pedestrians spanning the Willamette nearby.

Outdoors

Parks & Greenspaces in South Waterfront

Elizabeth Caruthers Park

A central green space in South Waterfront with lawns, gardens, and a playground.

Willamette Greenway

A riverfront trail and park corridor running along the neighborhood's eastern edge.

Real Estate

Homes & Architecture in South Waterfront

A newly built district of high-rise condos and apartments along the Willamette, offering modern amenities, river views, and strong transit access.

High-rise condominium Modern apartment Mixed-use tower

Explore

Discovery Paths

Three ways to experience South Waterfront.

Foster corridor

1 Small cafes on SE Foster Rd
2 Eclectic eateries (Stella Taco, Pieper Cafe)
3 Bike-friendly side streets

Triangle loop

1 Foster Powell Park
2 Local restaurants
3 Mt. Scott / Holgate bike greenway

Local evening

1 Bar Carlo
2 Pieper Cafe
3 Stella Taco

Civic Infrastructure

The associations, meetings and shared resources that hold South Waterfront together.

Active associations

South Waterfront Neighborhood Association (SWCRC) neighborhood assn

South Waterfront triangle: SE Powell Blvd (north) to SE Foster Rd (south) to SE 82nd Ave (east) — bounded by SE Holgate to the north on the SW corner

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