The Gentry Apartments

I love, love, love this building! It’s absolutely gorgeous and full of antique eccentricities. There are trundle beds that tuck away in the walls where you’d least expect them. There are drawers in the closet stairs. There’s a combination safe that I never cracked, and I like to think there were secrets locked away inside it (probably not). The apartments have the original fixtures and glasswork, mine had the original telephone and clawfoot tub as well. It was just a lovely place to live, and it was wonderfully managed by Darlene. My partner and I just left for bigger space, but we wish we could have taken Darlene with us! And we wish we could have stayed there forever.
One thing to know about the area, however, is that it’s very near Jeld-​Wen field. That means that if you drive a car, you’ll have to plan a head on Timbers game nights as there will be zero parking anywhere nearby. If you pay for monthly parking right beside the building, you’ll also need to plan ahead for Sundays as the lot fills up with church-​goers on Sunday nights. This is no slight against The Gentry — they can’t help it! But it’s something I wish I had known going in. That said, plan ahead, and it won’t wreak havoc on your life at The Gentry.

Who says you need a mortgage to have a home?
I’ve called the Gentry home for almost four years, and if space were no concern, I’d be here for the rest of my days in Portland.
Here’s why the Gentry is a great place to live:
Built in 1910, the Gentry Apartments are on the National Historic Registry. The building has been preserved, from the original trundle beds to the clawfoot tubs and old-​fashioned elevator. There’s a cute little courtyard through the laundry room. Every floor features photos of Portland (or Portlanders) at the turn of the last century. You feel like you’re living in the 20s sometimes. It’s amazing. Rent is $ 695 – 905, and there are only studios and one-​bedrooms.
The neighbors are a diverse and interesting bunch, ranging from retirees and lawyers to musicians and PSU students. I think the unusualness of the building, and its downtown location, attracts a certain type. Basically, if you like living here, you’ll also like the people who live here. Some of my best friends are also my neighbors.
No building on the planet has more emotional significance to me. I met my future husband here (he was in #409; I was down the hall in #403). The Gentry was also home to our wedding (#102), and the birth of our daughter (#401).
One more thing: Darlene, the apartment manager, could not be any more wonderful. In fact, when she learned my partner and I wanted to get married, she suggested an empty apartment on the first floor. It was perfect little chapel for our 10 guests. A few months later, she didn’t bat an eye when we told her we were having a home birth; in fact, she was the first visitor!
The Gentry, man. It doesn’t get any better than this.