Benson Tower
- 1500 SW 11th Ave, Portland OR 97201
- Walkability Score: 99/100
- 27 Stories - 143 Condos - Built in 2007
- Rental Policy - No STR's - 25% Rental Cap
Benson Tower Condos For Sale
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My Take on Benson Tower
by Stuart Stevens, Portland Condo Specialist
Benson Tower is a 27 story high-rise located near the South Park Blocks in Portland. The tower went up in 2007 and is home to 143 one and two-bedroom condos. There is a great two bedroom + den floor plan here that makes excellent use of space and comes up on the market once in a while. There is also an entire-floor penthouse on the top of Benson Tower. Amenities include an outdoor courtyard and dining area, hot tub, community room and more.
I've helped a lot of clients buy and sell at Benson Tower and it's one of my favorite buildings in Portland. It's at an accessible price point for many buyers, it has a big variety of floor plans, solid amenities and secure garage parking. But the whole is better than just a combination of all those things.
The Management
I've noticed over the years working with buyers and sellers in this building that the HOA is responsive and generally well-liked by the owners. That almost never happens. I've had other listing brokers tell me that their owners say the management is responsive and that security is a top priority. I noticed one listing broker flat out say in their listing that Benson Tower is "one of the best managed buildings in Portland." I totally agree. And when sellers are saying that about their own building unprompted you want to take note. The monthly HOA dues cover water, sewer, trash, gas, hot water, and exterior maintenance. Because there are so many units here sharing the costs the fees tend to stay reasonable compared to some other comparable buildings.
Great Cultural District Location
The Walk Score is 98, and the Portland Streetcar stops literally at the front door. The PSU Farmers Market, which if you haven't been is by far one of the best I've ever been to, is steps away on Saturday mornings. There's a Safeway grocery store a block away. The Portland Art Museum, the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Keller Auditorium, the Oregon Historical Society, Directors Park, the South Park Blocks are all an easy walk. The Old Church Concert Hall is right across the street, and on summer evenings you might hear soft live music drifting up to your balcony.
PSU's campus wraps around the building, which gives the whole neighborhood good lively energy. Freeway access is easy when you need it. Forest Park trailheads are within a mile of the front door. Start walking east down Clay and you'll be at Waterfront Park in about 15 minutes. It's really one of the most connected spots in the city.
Benson Tower Amenities
There's a gym and weight room, a hot tub (rare in Portland high-rises) as well as a resident lounge and meeting room. You might see a gas fireplace in some old pics of the resident lounge but that was removed in the last remodel to save on the gas bill. Outside there's a courtyard with a BBQ area and a secure grassy lawn.
Now Let's Talk About the Condos
I mentioned there were a lot of floor plans here, but there are also a lot of floors (27!) and it's a different experience living on the lower, middle or top floors. I'm going to focus on the actual condos, finishes and livability here but if you're looking for market data and price trends check out my recent market report for Benson Tower.
The lower floors, the twos and threes especially, look out over either the building's private courtyard or the tree canopy from the South Park Blocks. I saw where one broker described a second-floor unit as having "captivating city views and lush greenery from the trees below," and, well, that's a nice way to put it. Of course you're not going to have the same views as the upper floors, but they're not awful thanks to the trees. Be aware though that the street noise can be bothersome on these lower floors depending on where the unit is.
As you move into the middle floors, the 6th through 10th range, you hit this sweet spot where the views start to open up and you're looking out over the neighborhood roofline toward the South Park Blocks or West Hills. You can start to see bridges, and the northeast corner units at these levels have a particularly nice view of the Cultural District below. The southeast corner units, like the 07 stack, look directly out over the treetops of the nearby parks.
By the time you get up to about the 17th floor, you've got Mt. Hood, the river, and multiple bridges. And at the 24th floor you're really getting the full high-rise view, watching sunsets over the West Hills and you can see multiple different bridges from your covered balcony.
The Most Popular Floor Plans
I want to tell you about two floor plans in particular, because they're the ones my clients almost always love best.
The A Plan in the "04" stack on the NE corner is consistently described as the best layout in the building. It's a two-bedroom plus den configuration with two balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows in nearly every room. It packs a lot into about ~1250 square feet, and my clients are usually shocked to find that extra den in addition to the two bedrooms. That extra room makes a huge difference. And on the upper floors the view is fantastic.
The "01" stack is another one people love. It spans the entire southern length of the building with 270-degree views that take in Mt. Hood, the river, and the bridges. And here's the part I love: it has a massive 30-foot east-facing balcony that stays nice and comfortable all summer because it never gets hit with that late afternoon sun. People who own those units know exactly why that matters on a hot July afternoon.
The Penthouse
I have to mention 2701 because it's insanely cool. It takes up the entire 27th floor and it was renovated by the founder of Dave's Killer Bread. It has nearly 1,400 square feet of outdoor space on a wraparound terrace that features a private hot tub. On a clear day you can see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and even Mt. Rainier alongside the full Portland skyline. It's one of a kind and truly one of the best high-rise residences in the entire city.
A Few Practical Things About Benson Tower
Parking and storage are deeded separately as their own tax lots, which is standard in PDX. Most units come with one deeded parking space in the underground garage. BTW if you can ever get spot P-6 you should because it's right near the garage entry gate and has extra space on both sides.
The building has a rental cap and allows up to 25% of units to be leased out, which is 36 out of 143. Over the past couple years it's been running well under that, usually somewhere between 14 and 20 percent. Minimum lease is one year, so no short-term rentals are allowed.
It's a pet-friendly building and owners are allowed two pets per unit with some breed restrictions. This is a strict non-smoking building. There's a $700 move-in/move-out fee, which is pretty standard. Some units have a one-time capital improvement contribution due at closing, so just something to check on a case-by-case basis.
The Vibe
People really like living here. It's a friendly community and I know some residents who head to the farmers market together as a weekly ritual. I know a broker who lives here and can tell you that living at Benson Tower is the "quintessential Portland lifestyle" without it sounding like a sales pitch. The only negative thing I've heard anyone say about the building is that they wished there was a 3rd elevator because sometimes the wait time can be a little long. But that's about it for complaints, and let me tell you that says a lot about Benson Tower.
If you think it might be a good fit for you call or text me anytime at 503-966-4371 and let's discuss it.
Contact Stuart About Benson Tower
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