Far Southwest Neighborhood Guide

The Far Southwest area is a pleasant suburban feeling neighborhood, conveniently located next to the PCC Sylvania campus, Lesser Park,  and near Tigard and Lake Oswego areas.  Southwest neighborhoods offer some nice views, larger lots, and a wide range of home styles.

As with other neighborhoods around here, you can expect to find a lot of green spaces. Trees, trails, and parks abound, giving Far Southwest a more intimate, natural vibe. Residents appreciate the laid-back appeal, and since this is a college neighborhood, it’s much quieter than other parts of Portland. What makes this even more remarkable is that it sits just below I-5. Fortunately, traffic noise isn’t a major issue, so you can enjoy a stroll through the streets or one of Far SW’s two area parks in peace. 

PCC Campus – Sylvania

When it comes to higher learning, you can’t do much better than the Sylvania campus. This is the oldest and largest setting for Portland Community College, as it was built in 1968. Fortunately, the buildings and surrounding areas have been updated throughout the years, so it has a more modern aesthetic to it. Sylvania is nestled within several acres of forested area, so it can feel like you’re not even part of a major metropolitan city. Students love attending classes while also getting in touch with their natural side. 

Other highlights of this campus include a relatively new fitness center (complete with an Olympic-sized pool), a state-of-the-art theater, and a makerspace. If you’re not familiar with the term, makerspaces are designed to allow STEM students to practice their skills by creating various science and engineering projects. Think 3D printers and laser cutters coupled with arts and crafts. On average, there are over 23,000 students attending Sylvania each year, but thanks to the layout and hidden nature of the campus, it feels much more intimate. 

Another exciting component of Sylvania is the learning garden, where students are able to grow various plants and vegetables for research and consumption. PCC is all about sustainability and environmental stewardship, so the garden provides a natural outlet for both ideas. 

Far Southwest Neighborhood Businesses of Note

Since this area is dominated by the PCC campus, you have to travel outside of its borders to find local shops and storefronts. However, despite its smaller size and abundance of greenery, Far Southwest does have a few gems. Both residents and students should be sure to check out these highlights whenever possible. 

Casa Fresh

In music, a “mash-up” is when two pre-recorded songs are blended together to create something unique. By that definition, Casa Fresh could be considered a mashup of Mexican and Mediterranean food, resulting in something better than the sum of its parts. You certainly won’t see many other Mexi-Medi restaurants in Portland, so be sure to stop by whenever you’re close. 

Reading through the menu, it can sometimes look like two different restauranteurs decided to open up shop in the same space, and rather than compete, they chose to pool their resources. On the Mexican side of things, you have traditional favorites like burritos, tostadas, and tortas. For the Mediterranean-inclined, there is everything from hummus to gyros to Baba Ghanouj to dolma (stuffed grape leaves). Thanks to the crossover effect, each dish has the best of both worlds, creating a culinary experience like no other. 

Casa Fresh – 11139 SW Capitol Hwy

Kuang’s Kitchen

Considering that a significant demographic of Far Southwest is college students, restaurants in the area have to cater to their needs. Case in point is the laid-back Kuang’s Kitchen. Here you can get a lot of food without dropping a ton of money, making it a prime destination for those eating on a budget. 

Kuang’s specializes in Szechuan-style dishes, so most of the dishes are spicy and full of flavor. Some of the menu highlights include ten-ingredient chow mein (and fried rice), Szechuan beef, sweet and sour pork, and prawns in lobster sauce. Although Kuang’s isn’t very active online, it has a dedicated following and gets pretty busy for both lunch and dinner. This is even more impressive when you consider that the place doesn’t serve beer and wine – two Portland staples. 

Kuang’s Kitchen – 11137 SW Capitol Hwy

Far Southwest Neighborhood Podcast

Prefer to listen? We’ve got you covered. The Portland Neighborhood Podcast will cover every single Portland neighborhood, one neighborhood per episode. Join us on this exclusive audio journey and discover each 95+ colorful and unique Portland ‘hoods.

Far Southwest Neighborhood Parks

Lesser Park

Sylvania Area Natural Park

Dickinson Park and Woods

Holly Farm Park

Loll Wildwood Natural Area

Nansen Summit Park

Community Resources

Neighborhood Association Website

Portland Community College – Sylvania Campus

Far Southwest Schools

Elementary school: Markham Elementary School
Middle school: Jackson Middle School
High school: Wilson High School

Neighborhood Vibe

Like most of the Southwest Portland neighborhoods, Far Southwest features more of a suburban feel than neighborhoods located closer to the city center.  The Southwest area of Portland features more mature trees, established neighborhoods with older homes in a variety of styles, and a comfortable family-friendly feel.  There are several parks and nature areas in the Southwest hills, making it easy to get away from it all while still being in the city. 

Stats

Zip Code 97212

Local Crime Stats

Census