Still the dream ... but closer to reality

The Street of Dreams opens this weekend offering more affordable options, but just as much splendor

By Nicole DeCosta

The Lake Oswego Review, Jul 29, 2010

Jeffrey Basinger / pamplin media group

The 2010 NW Natural Street of Dreams — a home tour — is located at Cresap Summit, which is in Forest Heights off Skyline Boulevard in Portland. It opens July 31 and the homes can be viewed through Aug. 29.

This year, the dream is simpler. The houses are smaller. But the tour is more sustainable for the environment – and your wallet – than ever before.

Up in the hills west of downtown Portland, simplicity and sustainability meet sophistication as the NW Natural Street of Dreams celebrates its 35th year, opening July 31.

There was a day when Street of Dreams homes went for more than $1 million, or even $2 million. Not so with all of the homes today, as the Home Builders of Association of Metropolitan Portland asked the public for its input and heard one clear message: Smaller is better.

“As you look around you’re going to see a more relevant Street of Dreams,” said Rick Bernard from Bernard Custom Homes, chair of this year’s SOD when visiting the development earlier this month. “We have something for everybody this year. This will be one of the best shows we’ve ever done.”

Eric Stride, Street of Dreams show manager, said that in the past couple of years show attendees expressed a desire to see smaller, more sustainably built homes.

“It’s more scaled-back homes. They are less expensive, because (most people) are definitely not going to buy big, expensive homes,” Stride said. “These are more realistic and attainable. An $850,000 home is more attainable than a $2 million home.

“It’s the (poor) economy, but it’s definitely reflective of today’s dream home.”

Returning to the west side of Portland, the eight-lot Street of Dreams is at Cresap Summit, atop Forest Heights off Northwest Skyline Boulevard, with condos on display nearby and in downtown Portland.

Located nearby Cresap Summit (a shuttle ride away), the prize home this year – it’s actually sold – is a 6,000-square-foot Earth Advantage Gold home that combines European craftsman styling with a Pacific Northwest twist. It’s called “Forest Edge,” built by Elite Development Northwest and Jamie Harris and Natalie Long.

“Forest Edge,” befit with beautiful woodwork and stone, was listed for $1.7 million.

“These two women have an incredible eye for their homes,” Stride says. “Their business is going crazy.”

A Hearth and Home house called “Refinement,” by Karey Cresap, the Street of Dreams site developer, is another highlight. It’s 3,400 square feet and Earth Advantage certified.

Cresap also has “Transitions” – 2,800 square feet and Earth Advantage certified.

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