About this Location

Facility Overview

Parking NW - NW 23rd & Irving (Lot L289) is a clean, conveniently located open-air surface parking facility situated in the heart of the historic Alphabet District in Northwest Portland. Tucked on NW Irving Street between NW 23rd Avenue and NW 24th Avenue, the lot is framed by manicured green shrubbery and distinctive concrete entry columns topped with decorative planters. Because this facility is an outdoor, single-level lot without low ceiling decks or overhead structural beams, it provides unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it an exceptional choice not only for standard sedans, compacts, and crossovers, but also for lifted pickup trucks, full-sized SUVs, commercial vans, and vehicles equipped with rooftop cargo carriers or bicycle racks that cannot clear standard parking garage height barriers.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located just off Portland's bustling Northwest 23rd Avenue—frequently called the 'Trendy 23rd' corridor—this parking facility puts drivers steps away from premier dining, local cafes, and boutique shopping. Directly adjacent to the iconic Papa Haydn dessert restaurant and bakery, the lot is also mere steps from top culinary destinations including Jo Bar & Rotisserie, Escape from New York Pizza, Ken's Artisan Bakery, Salt & Straw, The Fireside, and Mio Sushi. Shoppers can walk within two to three minutes to popular neighborhood retailers like prAna, Lush Cosmetics, Paper Source, and Sloan Boutique. Sports fans and eventgoers heading to Providence Park for Portland Timbers or Portland Thorns soccer matches can park here and enjoy an easy, picturesque 15-minute walk (under 0.8 miles) through the neighborhood, completely avoiding stadium-adjacent gridlock. Outdoor enthusiasts also frequently use the lot as a peaceful launching point before walking up to the Lower Macleay Trailhead and Forest Park.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicle access and egress are located directly along NW Irving Street, which operates as an east-west neighborhood roadway connecting easily to both NW 23rd Avenue and NW 24th Avenue. Because the lot has direct curb cuts onto NW Irving Street rather than onto the heavily pedestrian-trafficked NW 23rd Avenue, entering and exiting is smooth and hassle-free even during peak evening and weekend dining hours. For public transit connections, the Portland Streetcar North/South (NS) Line runs along NW 23rd Avenue just half a block away, providing rapid connections directly through the Pearl District, Downtown Portland, and the South Waterfront. Multiple TriMet bus lines (notably Line 15 along NW 23rd and Line 20 along W Burnside) operate stops within short walking distance. Drivers commuting from across the region can reach the lot quickly via Interstate 405 (Exits 2A or 2B for Everett/Glisan) and West Burnside Street.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Uncovered, open-air surface parking lot with unobstructed overhead headroom.
Clearly marked standard parking stalls and designated ADA accessible spaces.
Prominent street signage featuring Parking NW branding and blue circular 'P' markers at the entrance.
Multiple touchless self-service payment options, including mobile web payment, ParkChirp reservation support, and on-site automated payment terminals.
Automated license plate-based payment enforcement (no physical dashboard tickets required).
Continuous 24/7 operating hours accommodating early morning arrivals, afternoon shopping, and late-night dining.
Well-lit parking surface with perimeter landscaping providing neighborhood aesthetic integration and visibility.

Ideal For

Shoppers, diners, and coffee enthusiasts exploring the NW 23rd Avenue and NW 21st Avenue retail districts.
Dinner guests visiting Papa Haydn, Jo Bar, Paley's Place, or nearby Nob Hill restaurants.
Soccer supporters attending Portland Timbers and Thorns matches at Providence Park seeking hassle-free egress after the match.
Drivers of oversize pickups, high-clearance 4x4s, and vans with roof boxes who cannot safely enter standard parking garages.
Visitors staying in local historic guest houses, short-term rentals, or visiting friends in the Alphabet District.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Because NW 23rd Avenue is one of Portland's most popular leisure destinations, on-street metered parking fills up quickly and has strict time limits enforced by PBOT under Northwest Parking District (Zone M) regulations. Parking in this off-street lot eliminates the risk of neighborhood street meter expiration. Drivers should look for the concrete planter pedestals marking the driveway entrance on the north side of NW Irving Street. Have your vehicle license plate ready when paying at the kiosk or on your smartphone, as spaces are verified by plate rather than space number. If visiting for dinner or a Providence Park match, plan to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your reservation or kickoff to secure a prime spot.