About this Location

Facility Overview

Lot #197 is a centrally positioned, open-air surface parking facility located at 801 SW Harvey Milk Street (formerly SW Stark Street) in the vibrant West End of Downtown Portland. Situated at the crossroads of SW Harvey Milk Street and SW 8th Avenue, the lot offers straightforward ground-level maneuvering with clearly striped parking bays. Because this facility is an outdoor surface lot with no low overhead beams, ramps, or ceilings, it features unobstructed vertical clearance. This makes it an exceptional parking option not only for standard sedans, compact cars, and crossovers, but also for lifted pickup trucks, full-size SUVs with roof boxes, ski racks, cargo carriers, and high-roof work or passenger vans that cannot safely enter standard subterranean or multi-story downtown parking structures.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned right in the energetic cultural, culinary, and shopping corridor of Downtown Portland, Lot #197 puts visitors within immediate walking distance of many of the city\'s most beloved landmarks and destinations:

Powell\'s City of Books: The world-renowned flagship bookstore on Burnside Street is less than a 5-minute walk (under 3 blocks away).
Pioneer Courthouse Square: Known as \'Portland’s Living Room\', hosting community festivals, live performances, and events, located just 3 blocks south (about a 4-minute walk).
Pioneer Place Mall & Downtown Retail: High-end fashion boutiques, electronics, and major department stores along SW Morrison and SW Yamhill are within a 5-minute stroll.
Portland\'5 Centers for the Arts & Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall: The Cultural District\'s premier concert and theatrical halls are located approximately 5 to 7 blocks south (about a 7-minute walk).
Midtown Beer Garden & Downtown Food Carts: A massive concentration of famous Portland street food vendors and craft beverage hubs is just a short 2 to 3-block stroll away.
The Pearl District: Historic cobblestone streets, art galleries, craft breweries, and trendy dining spots start just across West Burnside Street, 4 minutes away on foot.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Accessing Lot #197 is straightforward via SW Harvey Milk Street and adjacent one-way downtown avenues. Ingress and egress points are designed for smooth vehicle rotation, avoiding the severe ramp bottlenecks frequently encountered in multistory garages during peak evening departure times. For regional highway access, drivers can easily connect to I-405 via SW 12th Avenue or Burnside Street, providing rapid routing toward I-5 North and South as well as US-26 towards Beaverton and the Oregon Coast.

The facility also serves as an outstanding Park-and-Ride hub for the TriMet transit network. The MAX Light Rail (serving Blue, Red, and Green lines) stops at Pioneer Courthouse Square and along SW 5th and 6th Avenues, less than 3 blocks away. In addition, the Portland Streetcar lines running north-south on SW 10th and SW 11th Avenues provide effortless transit between South Waterfront, Portland State University, and NW 23rd Avenue.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Headroom: Unlimited vertical clearance with no low-clearance structural overhead hazards.
Automated Self-Pay Kiosks: On-site payment machines accepting major credit cards and debit cards.
Contactless Mobile App Payments: Compatible with leading mobile parking payment apps (such as Reef, ParkMobile, or PayByPhone) allowing quick session extensions from your smartphone.
24/7 Accessibility: Continuous around-the-clock access suited for early-morning business commuters and late-night downtown diners alike.
ADA Accessible Spaces: Dedicated accessible parking stalls located near street entry points for level pedestrian transition.
Well-Illuminated Surface Lot: Perimeter floodlighting installed across the lot perimeter for clear night visibility.

Ideal For

Powell\'s and West End Visitors: Shoppers, book lovers, and casual tourists spending an afternoon exploring independent boutiques and galleries.
Downtown Commuters & Office Workers: Professionals needing reliable, quick-exit daytime parking close to the Central Business District.
Concertgoers and Theater Patrons: Attendees heading to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Crystal Ballroom, or Antoinette Hatfield Hall.
Oversized Vehicle Drivers: Contractors, trade professionals, and road-trippers whose high-profile vans or lifted 4x4 trucks exceed typical indoor parking clearance limits.
Evening Diners and Food Cart Crawlers: Visitors sampling the renowned food cart scene and craft cocktail lounges throughout the West End and Pearl District.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Observe One-Way Traffic Grids: Downtown Portland streets operate on a strict alternating one-way grid. Plan your turns early when approaching SW Harvey Milk Street from 8th or 9th Avenues.
Take Note of Your License Plate: The payment kiosks operate on a Pay-by-Plate system; be sure to note or photograph your vehicle license plate before walking to the payment kiosk or loading the mobile parking app.
Pre-Pay Adequate Time: Downtown meter enforcement is active; using a smartphone app allows you to easily add extra time without needing to walk back to your vehicle while browsing shops or dining.
Keep Valuables Hidden: In accordance with standard downtown urban parking best practices, always lock your doors and stow shopping bags, electronics, and personal belongings out of plain view.