Ladd’s Addition: Portland Neighborhood Guide
One of our favorite Ladd’s Addition homes is this former Italian Presbyterian church that’s been turned into a home (and it’s turning us into a believer).
Ladd's Addition is Portland's oldest planned development, a historic southeast neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a maze so charming you’ll never want to find your way out of it. These orderly but unorthodox streets run orthogonal to the city’s standard grid design and converge in four diamond-shaped rose gardens and a circular central garden park that’s surrounded by historic homes and local shops. Full of classic craftsman, four square, mission, and bungalow homes, with wide greenways, Ladd’s feels like the Portland version of a Hallmark movie town, with hand-crocheted pole-warmers on the street signs and giant googly eyes on the trees. Let’s grab a coffee at Floyd’s and take a walk through this residential romcom.
Above left: the iconic crocheted sign pole-warmers; Second from left: A gorgeous Spanish revival home perched on one of Ladd’s triangular corner lots; Second from right: A carefully preserved tree is serving neighborhood watch; Right: Four Square and craftsman homes flanking one of the four diamond-shaped rose gardens.
History of Ladd’s Addition
There are only 870 residences in Ladd’s Addition, and it’s Portland’s most heavily forested inner-city neighborhood - it’s giving tree-lined dreams, and that is by design. William S. Ladd, a former mayor and one of the businessmen who shaped much of Portland’s early design, invested $10,000 in a 126 acre plot between SE Hawthorne and Division and SE 20th and 12th to establish Ladd’s Addition as Portland first planned development, complete with the directive that over 1,600 trees must be planted. He then used his influence on the water commission to ensure a water main was installed from the Bull Run Reservoir. This, combined with the introduction of a new trolley line, spurred development by making Ladd’s one of the most accessible East side neighborhoods to downtown Portland in the late 1800s.
Left: A Ladd’s Addition Spanish revival is serving serious style; Right: A craftsman home with abundant fall foliage and late-season hydrangeas adds to the neighborhood’s movie-set charm.
Ladd’s Addition was designed as a Victorian-era residence park and was heavily influenced by the City Beautiful movement, which aimed to bring European-inspired grandeur, beauty, and orderliness to industrialized American cities that had grown haphazardly. Urban planners believed this would lead to a healthier and more law-abiding society, and in Ladd’s Addition, it certainly led to a tight-knit community. The neighborhood has a long history of political activism and advocating for its members. During a time of anti-Asian sentiment and racism in the early 1900s, Ladd’s Addition was one of the few Portland neighborhoods to welcome Chinese and Japanese residents. In the 1970s, residents thwarted a proposed freeway development that would run alongside the neighborhood, and in the 1980s, the neighborhood created a downzoning plan to reduce duplexes and increase single family homes. Today, you’ll find anti-fascism signs on nearly every front yard in Ladd’s Addition. From it’s (kind of corrupt) Gilded-age creation to it’s modern era of liberation - we love to see a neighborhood evolving with the times.
Above: Ladd’s Addition homeowners use their yards and windows to make clear their stance on anti-fascism.
In 1977, Ladd’s Addition was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Construction and renovation projects must follow the neighborhood’s conservation guidelines. Notably, it is one of few Portland neighborhoods with alleys, which contributes to the overall walkable feeling by reducing traffic and driveways on the main streets. Because of the maze-like design of the diagonal streets, there’s far less traffic than other inner east side neighborhoods in Portland, which further emphasizes the safe and cozy Gilmore Girls-esque essence of the neighborhood.
Above: Craftsman and Four Square homes flanked by the neighborhood’s iconic trees, including one of the elm trees (right photo, far left tree) that has been preserved by the neighborhood’s Save Our Elms society.
Ladd’s Addition is not just walkable - it’s also a pillar of the biking community. SE Ladd Avenue is a heavily used bike route for commuters. We mustn't forget the Annual Ladd’s 500 - the motto of which is “let’s do something stupid,” and to that we say, go off, y’all. Every year, relay teams ride around Ladd Circle Park 100 times, equaling about 100 miles, switching bikes at least 10 times.
Left: Mowrey Mansion, a 1910 neoclassical mansion built for A.C. Mowrey, the president of the East Side Mill and Lumber Company, stands imposing before the North Rose Garden in Ladd’s Addition; Right: An eclectic, masonic-looking stone facade in Ladd’s Addition.
Ladd’s Addition Gardens
The four diamond-shaped rose gardens in Ladd’s Addition are home to more than 3,000 roses of 60 varieties, and you literally can’t help but stop and smell the roses when you walk by. Want to throw the sweetest party ever? The gardens are available to rent for weddings and events, and the central garden is home to all kinds of parties for the community throughout the year, from music festivals to Easter Egg hunts. In the summer, neighborhood volunteers organize weekly deadheading sessions to keep the gardens’ rose bushes looking their best.
Above: In and around the Ladd’s Addition rose gardens, which were still flourishing in October.
Where to Eat & Shop in Ladd’s Addition
Across the street from Ladd’s Circle Park are some hidden gems for a rainy day. Stepping into Floyd’s Coffee Shop feels like being an extra on the set of Practical Magic. Next door, you can get a traditional tattoo from one of the many talented artists at Tattoo Smile, or wander through Bonita Bodega to find cool girl and cool guy statement pieces, delicious fragrances, locally made pantry staples, and more. When you finally find your way out of Ladd’s Addition, you can regroup at Upper Left Roasters, where we literally dream about their Turkish Eggs.
Left: Grabbing a coffee at whimsical Floyd’s; Second from left: Staying awhile at Tattoo Smile; Second from right: A juicy-looking hairclip display at Bonita Bodega; Right: Relaxing at Upper Left Roasters after a long stroll through Ladd’s Addition.
A beautiful inner city neighborhood with a strong sense of community, historic charm, giant trees, and unique local shops? It’s giving the best of what Portland has to offer, and we love to see it. We fall in love with Ladd’s Addition every time we get lost in its beautiful maze.
Left: One of many churches and former churches to be found in Ladd’s Addition; Right: A charming brick home covered in ivy.
Ladd's Addition FAQ
What is Ladd's Addition in Portland?
Ladd's Addition is Portland's oldest planned development, a historic southeast neighborhood known for diagonal streets that run off the city's standard grid, four diamond-shaped rose gardens, and a central circular park. It was designed by William S. Ladd as a Victorian-era residence park influenced by the City Beautiful movement.
When was Ladd's Addition added to the National Register of Historic Places?
Ladd's Addition was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Construction and renovation projects in the neighborhood must follow its conservation guidelines.
What types of homes are in Ladd's Addition?
Ladd's Addition has about 870 residences, mostly classic craftsman, four square, mission, and bungalow homes. It is also one of the few Portland neighborhoods with alleys, which keeps driveways and traffic off the main streets.
How many roses are in the Ladd's Addition rose gardens?
The four diamond-shaped rose gardens hold more than 3,000 roses of 60 varieties. The gardens can be rented for weddings and events, and neighborhood volunteers hold weekly deadheading sessions in the summer.
What is the Ladd's 500?
The Ladd's 500 is an annual relay bike race with the motto "let's do something stupid." Teams ride around Ladd Circle Park 100 times, about 100 miles, switching bikes at least 10 times.
Where can I get coffee and eat in Ladd's Addition?
Floyd's Coffee Shop sits across the street from Ladd's Circle Park, next to Tattoo Smile and Bonita Bodega. Just outside the neighborhood, Upper Left Roasters is known for its Turkish eggs.
Check out our East Side Guide for more information about Portland’s East Side Neighborhoods.
If you are curious about buying in Ladd’s Addition, let’s grab a coffee at Floyd’s!
