Rent Crawl: 4 Homes in Downtown Portland for Under $2K Per Month
Exterior of Sky3 Apartments in Downtown Portland.
Image: Blaine Porth-Henderson
Renting a place in Portland can be a bit of a blood sport—so let us here at Portland Monthly help you. A couple of times a month, we compile a quick list of digs for rent in the city right now, at a variety of price points. (This time, all our picks are under $2,000/month!) We’re on the lookout for non-cookie-cutter spaces—think antique detailing to useful amenities—without breaking the bank. This week: homes with an on-site coffeehouse, fire escapes, accent walls, and rooftop patios.
Exterior at the Roosevelt.
Image: The Garcia Group
This one bedroom located on the eighth floor of the Roosevelt, a 1924 hotel turned-apartment complex, has us seeing red, from its untouched-since-who-knows-when brick exterior to its deep red hardwood floors and cabinets.
Image: The Garcia Group
The living room, although attached to the kitchen, feels separate and spacious, thanks in part to two large windows with a city view and a ceiling fan—something about a ceiling fan just makes a room feel fancier, don't you think? The bedroom has a black accent wall, perfect for a gallery wall of framed prints, that gives the space some dimension, plus floor-to-ceiling sliding mirrors for closet doors, the aforementioned red wood flooring, and a sweet little hanging shelf that matches the accent wall and would be an obvious potential home for hanging plants and knick-knacks. Utilities are also included in the rent, which is a big plus.
This light-washed brick building has got the cutest green-trimmed windows and overhang to match, some very retro-looking, slightly spindly fire escapes, and a ton of vintage details. The available unit is pretty big at 860 square feet, though cooks should beware, as very little room is dedicated to the kitchen. The living room, however, is massive; down the hallway, there's an equally large bedroom. (The hallway includes a vintage phone—maybe you can use it to call someone to register your concerns about the teensy kitchen?) The bathroom is home to a clawfoot tub, matching both the aesthetic and the age of the hallway phone, and period tiling.
$1,513 and up, Sky3 Apartments
A kitchen in a unit at Sky3.
Image: Blaine Porth-Henderson
For those looking for a modern, updated option, Sky3 fits the bill. The exterior gives off hotel vibes, but the interior common spaces look as though they were designed by a really well-off mom with impeccable taste.
The common area at Sky3.
Image: Blaine Porth-Henderson
Too niche? Perhaps, but it’ll make sense once you peep the planters with faces carved into them, the massive statement bookshelf, elaborate hanging light fixtures, and leather barstools. Available apartments are very modern, well-lit and equipped with energy-efficient, stainless-steel appliances. The place has got tons of amenities: a rooftop patio with outdoor fireplaces, a game room with a pool table, and a seemingly-connected Coava Coffee Roasters. Sky3 also dedicates 20 percent of their apartment space to affordable housing options based on income.
This place on SW Broadway has serious character at a good price. The 1927 red-brick exterior gives way to a retro lobby anchored by a pair of swanky leather couches. Regency Apartments is surrounded by greenery, and the tiny-but-mighty studios include hardwood floors, ceiling fans and European-style amenities.
