– Laurelhurst –

Laurelhurst is a neighborhood of beautiful historic homes surrounding Laurelhurst park on the east side of Portland, OR. Laurelhurst was developed along streetcar lines as an exclusive residential suburb. Most of the 2,880 platted lots had been sold by 1925 and the streetcar tracks were removed. The land was among many properties acquired by William Sargent Ladd in the mid-1800s. The property was first a large dairy farm, called Hazel Fern Farm, which was commonly known as Ladd’s Farm.

Today there are over 1800 residences in Laurelhurst. By 2024, the median home price was $901K, with many valued over one million. Common architectural styles include Craftsman homes, Storybook, Tudor designs, Bungalow styles, Colonial, Dutch Colonial and English variations. See Laurelhurst neighborhood boundaries . This photo gallery also includes several houses in the Sunnyside neighborhood, directly south of Laurelhurst Park.

Laurelhurst Theater — Laurelhurst Theatre

Many of the homes are quite large, especially those surrounding Laurelhurst Park, one of Portland’s many fine urban parks. The neighborhood is also well known for the historic Laurelhurst Theater. The theater was built in 1923 and features an Art Deco design. Laurelhurst Theater screens modern cinema as well as independent, art, and classic films.

The H. Russell Albee house is among the historic treasures found in Laurelhurst. Build in 1912, it has long been known to locals as The Mayor’s Mansion. Colonial Revival style architecture of this kind can be found in many areas of Portland. The Mayor’s Mansion was originally constructed as the home for then future Portland mayor H. Russell Albee. The large brick house was designed by a prominent architect named Albert E. Doyle.

A.E. Doyle is known for many designs in Oregon and Washington including the Pacific Building in downtown Portland. He may be most renowned for his role as architect of the Reed College campus. Doyle also designed Portland’s iconic public drinking fountains known as Benson Bubblers.

Laurelhurst was born following the sale in 1909 of Hazelfern Farm to the Laurelhurst Company for approximately $2 million, less than the price of some individual Laurelhurst houses today. The property was sold by the Ladd Estate Company. The Laurelhurst name came from a similar development in Seattle, which was named for the laurel shrubbery near the development combined with the Old English “hurst”, meaning a wooded hill. The City of Portland bought 31 acres for $92,000 to dedicate to Laurelhurst Park while the first houses were being constructed.

The H. Russell Albee House was was listed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Laurelhurst Park is directly behind the Mayor’s Mansion, which is located at 3360 SE Ankeny St. The house is now operated as a bed and breakfast under the name The Mayor’s Mansion.

Click on the Laurelhurst house pictures below to see full-sized images.