First Addition

First Addition, also known as historic Lake Oswego, is lush, with trees, gardens, and plant-decorated front porches.

There are roughly 850 houses here in many sizes and styles: matchbox-size cottages, Gothic Revival frame houses, and bungalows with river-rock porch piers. Residents pride themselves on keeping this community full of traditional charm. You’ll still see houses sized appropriately for lots, quaint gardens peeking from behind picket fences, and fir and cedar trees towering above narrow, village streets.

First Addition is adjacent to Lake Oswego, a city of 35,000 residents, and all it has to offer—Meringue Boutique for women’s clothing; Graham’s Books and Stationery for beautiful journals and bestsellers; and Clarke’s restaurant for seasonal cuisine. Also in the neighborhood are a public library, community center, post office, grocery store, and Chuck’s Pacific Coast Cookies and Coffee shop. Given the scenic lakeside location, walking distance to shops, and public transit into downtown Portland, it’s no wonder Cottage Living named First Addition as one of the ten best cottage communities in the country.