Formerly known as the Northwest Triangle, the area was once littered with manufacturing warehouses and railroad classification yards. In the late 1980s, developers began purchasing the area’s old buildings and converting them into lofts and offices. Artists, designers, and other creative types were the first to discover the gems in inside the rough and tough exteriors, and eventually Thomas Augustine, owner of the Augustine Gallery, originated the term Pearl District.

In the last 15 years, the Peal has experienced an urban renaissance like no other. Forward thinking urban planners have: traded in the viaduct and diesel trains for clean, convenient streetcars, large sidewalks, and bicycle lanes; replaced rundown storage facilities with modern Portland landmarks like Powell’s City Books, the largest independent bookstore in the country; and converted dilapidated warehouses into loft condominiums sporting high ceilings, large windows, and gourmet kitchens.

Many of these lofts are green buildings meeting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Builders of the condominiums use recycled materials, certified wood, and low VOC-interior finishes and paints. It’s no wonder that Popular Science Magazine once named Portland, OR as the country’s greenest city.

Outside the lofts lie innovative public parks including Jamison Square, which is built around a fountain and man-made waterfalls and Tanner Springs Park which features wetlands, walking trails, and a creek.

It’s hard to imagine what Capt. John Couch had in mind for the area when he plotted its borders in 1850, but no doubt he’d be amazed what can be seen today.