About this Location

Facility Overview

The Crossing At First - Lot 213 is a strategically positioned parking facility located at 2525 SW 1st Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Situated along the southern edge of Downtown Portland where the South Auditorium District meets the historic Lair Hill and South Waterfront neighborhoods, this facility serves the Crossing at First commercial office campus as well as daily visitors, university commuters, and eventgoers. The lot features an accessible, well-marked surface layout that makes navigation and parking effortless. Because it is an open-air surface parking facility, it provides open headroom without the restrictive vertical height limits common to subterranean downtown garages, making it suitable for large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, passenger vans, and standard commuter vehicles alike.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located on the southern rim of Portland\'s central core, Lot 213 puts drivers within easy walking distance or a short transit trip to several of the city\'s key educational, cultural, and recreational destinations:

Portland State University (PSU): Just an 8 to 12-minute walk northwest, making it an exceptional alternative parking depot for students, faculty, and campus visitors avoiding congested core university garages.
Keller Auditorium: Located roughly 12 to 14 minutes north on foot (or 5 minutes by rideshare), ideal for evening Broadway performances, ballets, and concerts.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park & RiverPlace: A comfortable 10 to 12-minute walk east, offering scenic Willamette River paths, waterfront dining, boat docks, and festivals.
Duniway Park & Lilac Garden: Only 8 minutes southwest on foot, featuring outdoor running tracks, sports fields, and landscaped recreation trails.
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) & Portland Aerial Tram: Located roughly 15 minutes south on foot or a swift 5-minute bike or transit connection down to the South Waterfront terminal.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress to Lot 213 are straightforward, with entry points oriented off SW 1st Avenue and adjacent side streets near SW Sheridan and SW Arthur Streets. The facility benefits from immediate highway proximity, situated right alongside the junctions of Interstate 405, Interstate 5, and the Ross Island Bridge (US-26), allowing drivers to bypass gridlocked downtown surface streets immediately after parking. Public transportation connections are also exceptional: the MAX Light Rail Orange Line stops nearby at SW Lincoln St & 3rd Ave (less than a 5-minute walk away), providing direct light rail transit across the Tilikum Crossing to the Eastside or north through the heart of Downtown Portland. The Portland Streetcar NS Line and multiple TriMet bus lines are equally accessible within a short stroll.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Spacious, open-air surface parking design with wide driving lanes and clearly delineated bays.
No restrictive low-clearance overhangs, welcoming standard passenger cars, tall roof racks, and light commercial pickup trucks.
Designated ADA accessible parking stalls conveniently placed near pedestrian pathways.
Digital payment convenience supported through automated on-site payment machines and mobile parking applications.
Illuminated parking grounds offering added evening visibility for night-shift employees, students, and event attendees.
Immediate connectivity to major freeway on-ramps including I-405, I-5, and Hwy 26.

Ideal For

PSU Students & Faculty: Seeking dependable daily parking within walking distance of academic buildings and the urban campus.
Downtown Commuters: Professionals working in the Crossing at First commercial campus and surrounding South Auditorium office buildings.
Theater & Event Attendees: Drivers seeking convenient staging for performances at Keller Auditorium or riverfront festivals at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
OHSU & South Waterfront Visitors: Commuters heading toward the aerial tram base or South Waterfront medical clinics.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When planning your trip to Lot 213, keep your vehicle license plate number handy before walking to the payment kiosk, as parking management systems in Portland require payment by plate. If you are visiting during major PSU campus events or peak evening theater curtain times at Keller Auditorium, arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to secure your preferred spot. Be sure to display proof of payment if required or complete payment promptly via your mobile device upon parking. As with all urban parking across central Portland, remember to practice common sense vehicle safety by rolling up windows, locking doors, and keeping all visible personal belongings out of sight.