When the Tudor Arms apartment building opened in 1915, after being constructed for a whopping $125,000, the article announcing it took up most of the page in the Oregon Daily Journal. That’s because it was “not only remarkable for the artistic beauty of its exterior,” but was "undoubtedly the most modernly constructed and appointed apartment house yet constructed on the Pacific coast.” Why so exciting? In part, there were electric ranges in every one of the 53 apartments, which apparently made it the largest apartment house west of the Missouri River that could boast such high-end amenities.

But the stoves weren’t the only thing that made the project stand out. There was also the distinct exterior, with its Jacobethan style—originally designed by notable architect Carl Linde—later noted when it was appointed to the National Register of Historic Places. Here at Property Watch, we know Linde, responsible for many apartment buildings around town, from the pink-hued Envoy to an Italian-influenced garden building in Kerns.

This one fits right in with the “atmospheric” style popular with upper-middle-class apartment seekers at the time, meant to evoke faraway locales and historic nostalgia. Here, the influence was England’s Renaissance period—Jacobethan being a portmanteau of Jacobean and Elizabethan. For other reference points on the style, think Downton Abbey, or the North Portland Library.

Here at the Tudor Arms, it’s all about that brickwork, and the rich contrast between the red textured façade and glazed white terracotta trim elements. These include the horizontal bands on the lower level, vertical quoins running up the corners, and a balustraded parapet at the very top, the latter looking very castle-like and giving that little something extra for a posh Nob Hill address.

Located on the quiet corner of Northwest Couch Street and 18^th Avenue, the building is shaped in a neat-U around a central court, which faces Couch and is entered via a large arch flanked by pilasters and capped in decorative flourish. Through an arched vestibule and the double-height, wood-paneled foyer, this main-floor unit has been nicely updated to 21st-century standards while still holding onto its historic charms.

At 739 square feet, it has two bedrooms, one bath, and an open-plan living area with kitchen and dining space, making it feel much bigger than its square footage would connote. New kitchen finishes like a subway tile backsplash, quartz counters, and faux tin tile on the ceiling work well with the intact historic details, like the crown molding and the milk glass and brass knobs on the doors.

The bathroom veers even more contemporary, with a deep marble-clad soaking tub and glass-enclosed shower. Brass fixtures and era-appropriate hex tile on the floor ensure the updates still vibe with the rest of the home.

And of course, this being a historic building, it’s not without its surprises, both old and new, sensational and more domestic. For instance, there’s the rumor that gangsters Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen once camped out on the third floor while on the run in the 1940s. Or, something that might be more relevant to today’s buyers: the fact that the closets in this apartment are on the larger side, with one big enough to be converted to a work-from-home space.

Listing Fast Facts

• Address: 1811 NW Couch St #101, Portland, OR 97209
• Size: 739 square feet, 2 beds/1 bath
• List Date: 12/15/2023
• List Price: $275,000, with $501/month HOA dues
• Listing Agent: Whitney Bishop, Keller Williams Sunset Corridor
• Stager: Crush Staging

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. She is based in Portland, Oregon. Contact Dalton here. 

Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].