Sold Over Asking: A 1937 Art Moderne House in SW Portland

Art Moderne home in Portland's southwest hills

Art Moderne houses are rare in Portland, and buyers notice when one comes up. The 1937 house at 16 SW Abernethy Street in the Homestead neighborhood was sold by Neighbors agent Jimi Hendrix on July 10, 2025, for $960,000, over its $949,000 asking price. The Oregonian featured the sale, and its headline says the photos show why.

The architecture

Art Moderne grew out of Art Deco in the 1930s, with smooth stucco walls, flat roofs, clean horizontal lines and lots of light. This house has all of it. The listing credits the design to Portland architect Roscoe Hemenway and calls it the H.S. Hudson house, after what was likely its original owner.

Inside

The house has 2,617 square feet over three levels, with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. High ceilings and large windows fill it with light.

  • A living room with a wood-burning fireplace and French doors to the backyard

  • An island kitchen with a butler’s pantry, plus a den close by

  • A dining room with sliding doors and its own terrace for eating outdoors

  • An upstairs primary suite with an ensuite bath and a balcony, and a second bedroom with its own ensuite

  • Two offices and a family room for working from home

  • Hardwood floors, central air and an attached two-car garage

The setting

Many SW Portland hillside lots slope steeply, but this one has a flat backyard with a patio. The house also has views of Mt. Hood and the city. It’s close to OHSU and downtown, which made it a strong fit for buyers who work at the hospital campus.

Why it sold

Buyers who love architecture don’t get many chances at an intact 1930s Moderne house. This one came with updates for modern life: central air, efficient heating, flexible rooms for work, and a yard you can use. Together they made it worth paying over asking.

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Historic Homes, PressOlivia Boone