My Take on The Meriwether
by Stuart Stevens - Principal Broker & Condo Specialist
When clients ask me about the South Waterfront, one of the first questions is almost always about which is the best high-rise of the three located there. That's a tough question without a definitive answer because it really depends on what your wants and needs are in a building. But as a quick starting point I would say that The Meriwether just barely edges out the other two if you're looking for a luxurious, full-service community in the South Waterfront. (read more)
Meriwether Condos For Sale
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Condo Living at The Meriwether
The Meriwether, named for Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition, is actually two connected towers sharing one HOA and amenities. The West Tower at 3570 South River Pkwy is 24 floors. The East Tower at 836 South Curry directly faces the Willamette and tops out at 21 floors. Together they hold approximately 245 condos and townhomes. As a general rule with high-rises higher is better for views, but at Meriwether the orientation matters just as much. West Tower units facing northeast, like the "05" stack, pick up the city skyline, the river, Tilikum Crossing and Ross Island, and a clear view toward Mount St. Helens. Southeast-facing units get Mount Hood and upriver views. Units on the south side look toward the West Hills and the tree-lined streets below. In the East Tower, northwest corner units are prized for taking in both the river and the downtown skyline simultaneously. Units facing east and southeast get close-in views of the river and the park. If the views are unobstructed then even on a low floor you get a front-row seat to the river. But to get the full view experience with the mountains, river and city skyline I'd recommend focusing on the 12th floor and up.
South Waterfront Neighborhood
The South Waterfront has a quieter, more residential feel than the Pearl or Downtown. It's urban and walkable, but just a little less busy and a little closer to nature. For instance you can take morning walks along the river and launch a kayak from a ramp near the building. It also, very importantly, had a reputation for safety.
About the Condos
The Meriwether runs a wide range of unit sizes and configurations, from compact one-bedrooms in the high 600-square-foot range all the way up to townhomes and large corner homes approaching or exceeding 2,000 square feet. The original finishes from 2006 were nice, and they really hold up here 20 years later. However many owners have upgraded quite a bit so if you don't care for the original finish out you'll probably still have plenty to choose from here. Bedrooms in both towers were delivered carpeted. Most units have walk-in closets, and one of the things I really like about this building is that it has actual laundry rooms which can double as utility and storage spaces. If you live in a high-rise now you know how handy that is vs a laundry closet that barely has room for a stackable washer and dryer. I like the balconies here too because they're big and genuinely usable. If outdoor space matters to you keep an eye out for the lower floor condos in the East Tower because they have the biggest patios in the development.
The "03" stack in the West Tower, particularly in the mid-to-upper floors like 1303 and 1903, is one of the most versatile and popular stacks at The Meriwether (floor plan below). It's a big one-bedroom with a den and two full baths, a gas fireplace, large balcony and terrific mountain and river views. At 1,248 square feet it's a one-bedroom condo with no compromises.
If you need a second bedroom there are a lot of 2/2 floor plans from which to choose but I especially like the "13" stack for its versatility. At 1,605 square feet, these two-bedroom plus den condos are in both towers and tend to sell faster than most when listed. The layout is a split plan with the bedrooms on opposite ends of the unit so it's great for working from home or hosting guests. The den is big enough to function as a real office or flex space, not just a nook. The larger "01" southeast corner units in the West Tower are around 1800 square feet and also very popular. These condos have two private balconies and an unobstructed southeast view that frames Mount Hood and the river together in a really striking way the higher up you go.
If you need even more space then look for the "00" and "02" stacks in the East Tower, which range from roughly 2,000 to 2,400 square feet. These corner units just feel a cut above the others with entry foyers, pantries, dens, and the kind of generous room sizes you rarely find in a condominium. The East Tower also includes a handful of two-story townhome-style units with private patios and direct exterior access to the courtyard.
Building Amenities
This is a very secure community, with 24/7 lobby front desk coverage. The concierge manages guests, packages and security for both towers. All three South Waterfront high-rises have that too, but Meriwether does have more amenities than they do. For instance, there's a rentable guest suite for out-of-town visitors, which is a popular amenity and unique to this building. The community room can be reserved for private gatherings of up to 25 people, and there's a first-floor library and resident lounge as well. The landscaped courtyard between the towers has fountains and a bocce court, and the gardens are maintained by the HOA. The building provides bike storage but also has dedicated kayak and paddleboard storage. There's a dog park literally across the street from the lobby, and the South Waterfront Greenway is just beyond that.
Parking is deeded in a secured underground parking garage that runs beneath both towers. Most one-bedroom units come with one deeded space, and larger units often come with two, either side by side or tandem. Some units have deeded storage spaces too, but not all of them so be sure to check if that's important to you.
The Meriwether HOA
The Meriwether is managed by Community Management Inc and the HOA has a reputation for being well-run. The monthly HOA dues cover gas, water, sewer, trash, exterior maintenance, insurance, amenities and concierge services. Building-wide fiber internet is available but sadly at the time of this writing it's not included in the dues and residents have to pay separately for it. Dues vary considerably by unit size and which tower you're in, so I'd encourage you to keep an eye on that before falling in love with a unit. You're paying dues based on the square footage, so if you're not using all the space in your condo you'll want to consider that piece.
The Meriwether recently completed a building-wide automatic leak detection and defense system installation, which is exactly the kind of proactive investment you want to see in a building like this. The capital contribution at purchase is equal to two times the monthly HOA dues. Move-in and move-out fees run $1,000 each.
This is not a good building for investors. The building does allow long-term rentals (six-month minimum lease), but there's a rental cap of 60 units and it's been at capacity for much of the past few years. That means anyone who wants to rent their unit out here has to join the waitlist and can't rent their unit until another owner stops renting theirs and a spot opens up. That can take a long time so I don't recommend this building if you think your plans could change suddenly and you would need to rent out your condo.
But for owner occupants who want a modern high-rise with great amenities and views without all the "issues" that come along with living in the Pearl or Downtown, The Meriwether could be a great match. Contact me today at 503-966-4371 for more information or reach out using the form below. I'd love to discuss high-rise living with you to see if it's a good fit.
