Suburban residential character
Argay is largely made up of mid-century single-family homes on curving, tree-lined streets, giving it a calm suburban feel within the city.
ARGAY · PORTLAND
12 spots to discover in this neighborhood 7,000 residents · 2.1 sq mi
“Mid-century quiet meets Columbia Slough trails — diverse families on Portland's far northeast edge.”
LIVE ACTIVITY
NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY
“Mid-century quiet meets Columbia Slough trails — diverse families on Portland's far northeast edge.”
“Mid-century quiet meets Columbia Slough trails — diverse families on Portland's far northeast edge.”
— Argay, Portland
About
Argay Terrace was conceived in the postwar era as a "move-up" suburban alternative to Portland's congested inner east side — spacious lots, larger homes, and gently sloping terrain that gave the area an open, almost pastoral feeling. The neighborhood sits between the Banfield Freeway (I-84) to the south and NE Marine Drive along the Columbia River to the north, putting residents within easy reach of the Columbia Slough trails that link all the way to the Willamette. The Slough itself draws birders and cyclists year-round, and Argay Park anchors the residential core with an off-leash dog area, basketball courts, and sports fields.
Today Argay is one of Portland's most multicultural far-northeast neighborhoods, home to families with roots across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands. Sandy Blvd traces the southern residential edge and opens onto a commercial strip anchored by Costco, IKEA, and Home Depot — practical anchors for a car-oriented outer neighborhood. Below Sandy, a handful of beloved local restaurants serve a loyal regulars: Sa Bai Thai has been a neighborhood institution for decades, while Bistro 23 offers farm-sourced sandwiches and pizzas just off 122nd. The Argay Terrace Neighborhood Association (ATNA) meets monthly and serves as the community's voice to the City of Portland, with no membership fees — all are welcome.
Boundaries: NE 122nd Ave (west), NE 148th Ave (east), I-84 / Banfield Freeway (south), NE Marine Drive / Columbia River (north). Adjacent: Parkrose (west), Wilkes (east), Russell (south).
The Vibe
Argay is a quiet, residential neighborhood with a settled, suburban feel. Tree-lined streets of mid-century homes give it a calm, lived-in character that contrasts with the bustle of the nearby airport corridors and shopping districts.
It is the kind of place defined more by its homes and families than by a single commercial hub, with residents relying on the larger nearby corridors for shopping and services.
History
Argay is a residential neighborhood in far Northeast Portland, tucked between the Columbia River industrial lowlands and the busy commercial corridors near the airport. For much of its history the area sat outside the city limits as part of unincorporated Multnomah County, and like much of east Portland it was annexed into the city relatively late, in the wave of annexations that reshaped the area in the 1980s and 1990s.
Much of Argay's housing stock dates from the mid twentieth century, built out as Portland's suburban edge pushed eastward after World War II. The neighborhood developed as a quiet, car-oriented residential pocket, with curving streets and single-family homes set back from the heavier traffic of the surrounding arterials.
Today Argay is a diverse, working- and middle-class community, part of an east Portland landscape shaped by post-annexation growth and a population that includes many immigrant and first-generation families.
Character
Argay is largely made up of mid-century single-family homes on curving, tree-lined streets, giving it a calm suburban feel within the city.
The neighborhood sits near Portland's airport and major east-side corridors, with easy access to highways while remaining quiet on its interior streets.
Landmarks
NE 135th Ave & NE Failing St
Neighborhood park with off-leash dog area, basketball court, sports fields, picnic tables, and playground.
NE Marine Dr corridor
Multi-use trail along the Columbia Slough connecting to the Willamette; popular with cyclists and birders.
4849 NE 138th Ave, Portland OR 97230
Warehouse club anchoring the commercial corridor north of Sandy Blvd.
1231 Lloyd Center Dr, Portland OR 97232
Swedish home-furnishings retailer; accessible from I-84 near the Argay boundary.
NE Portland
Portland Public Schools elementary serving the neighborhood.
Getting Around
The Parkrose School District high school serving the Argay area of outer Northeast Portland.
A Parkrose School District elementary school serving the Argay neighborhood.
Real Estate
Housing is dominated by mid-century single-family homes built during Portland's postwar suburban expansion, with some newer infill.
SIGNATURE FEATURE
Highly rated. Under the radar. The spots locals know about but tourists don't.
Get listed and be found by locals already exploring this neighborhood. Sponsor a spot and be the first thing they see.
Founding rate locked at signup · 5 sponsor positions per region · Annual billing
Explore More
Claim your free listing and connect with local customers. Get verified, manage your presence, and grow your reach.
Sign in once and access all of the PDX Network.
New here? Create an account.