Welcome to the Sylvan Tree House, a striking modern retreat designed by architect Richard Stenberg and built among the trees in 1970. Set on nearly half an acre, this private home captures the beauty of Portland’s forested landscape while remaining just minutes from Downtown, NW 23rd, the Pearl District, Goose Hollow, and the city’s cultural attractions. Stunning walls of windows frame peaceful woodland views from nearly every room, filling the home with natural light and creating a seamless connection to the outdoors. Multiple decks and patios provide the perfect setting for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the surrounding nature. Inside, fresh interior paint, updated lighting, and a bathroom refresh complement the home’s original mahogany and cedar detailing. The dramatic living room features vaulted ceilings, expansive windows, and a cozy gas fireplace. The remodeled kitchen offers Caesarstone countertops, sleek modern cabinetry, additional storage, and an oversized slider leading to the dining-area deck. A private office with built-in shelving completes the main level. Upstairs, the spacious primary suite includes a walk-in closet, sitting area, and skylight, while the second bedroom features its own bathroom, generous storage, and beautiful treetop views. The lower level offers two additional bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a laundry room. Complete with fresh exterior paint and access to miles of nearby trails through Pittock Acres, Macleay Park, Hoyt Arboretum, and Forest Park, this is more than a home. It is a private sanctuary in the trees, with the very best of Portland just minutes away. [Home Energy Score = 5. HES Report at https://rpt.greenbuildingregistry.com/hes/OR10121957]
Single-familyProperty Type
1970Year Built
0.43 acresLot Size
$368Price/Sq.Ft.
1 car garageParking
Listed by Jeremy Johansen• Windermere Realty Trust
Modern home with a large master on the upper level.Lower level has more bedroom and laundry. The main level has a nice kitchen and a step up living room with lots of windows to let in the light. There is a patio out back and a deck off the dining...
room area.
7 years ago• May not reflect the current state of the home
Sylvan-Highlands, located between Washington Park and Forest Park, is a hillside and wooded Portland neighborhood with winding roads and trailhead gateways. The neighborhood’s character concentrates at the Washington Park MAX Station area along SW Jefferson St, where transit platforms, park entrances, and commuter foot traffic set a purposeful pace. The Oregon Zoo, Hoyt Arboretum, and the World Forestry Center anchor local culture with exhibits, canopy walks, and forest-focused programming. Homes range from mid-century lines to contemporary builds tucked into steep lots, often framed by tall firs. Daily rhythms follow trail runs, dog walks, and bike climbs up Skyline and Fairview. Foggy mornings and filtered light give the streets a quiet, evergreen feel.
Provided by Walk Score and Local Logic
Market insights
4915 SW Barnes Rd · $849,900
DAYS ON MARKET
23 days
The average home goes pending in 19 days.
SALE-TO-LIST
100.6%
Most homes are selling 1% above list price.
LIST PRICE
$849,900
Median sale price in this area is $550,000. (35% lower than this home)
PRICE DROP
1 price drop
27% of homes in this area have had a price drop in the past month.
Property details
Interior
Exterior
Finance
Kitchen
Bathroom
Bedroom
Living
Dining
Interior features
Hardwood and wood floors
High ceilings with vaulted ceiling(s)
Built-in and natural lighting
Washer/Dryer present
Finished basement with exterior entry
Gas fireplace (1)
Bedrooms
Primary bedroom on upper level
Second bedroom on upper level
Third bedroom on lower level
Fourth bedroom on lower level
Bathrooms
Total of 4 bathrooms (including 3 full and 1 partial)
Partial bathroom on main level
One full bathroom on lower level
Two full bathrooms on upper level
Kitchen
Built-in oven
Cooktop
Down draft
Island
Dishwasher
Disposal
Free-standing refrigerator
Gas appliances
Gas hot water
Laundry & utility
Washer and dryer included
Flooring
Hardwood floors
Wood floors
Heating & cooling
Forced air heating
Air conditioning ready (no central cooling)
Exterior features
Deck
Patio
Yard
Trees/woods view
Corner lot
Hilly, secluded, wooded setting
Gravel road frontage
Home design
Single-family residence (residential)
View of trees/woods
Parking
Driveway and off-street parking
Attached 1-car garage
Total parking spaces: 1
Security
Security system installed
Construction
Built in 1970
Cedar and wood siding exterior
Membrane roof
Slab foundation
Utilities
Public water
Public sewer
Gas fuel
Green certification
Other
Property is detached
Main, upper and lower level area breakdown available
Electricity and solar
View estimated energy costs and solar savings for this home
Welcome to the Sylvan Tree House - a striking modern treehouse designed to showcase the beauty of Portland's Forest Park while being minutes away from 23rd Ave, Goose Hollow, Cultural Arts District, the Pearl District and Downtown PDX! This private beautiful home sits on almost half an acre with multiple decks and patios that seamlessly integrate into the surrounding naturescape. Inside, the thoughtfully designed floorplan ensures that every room offers its own peaceful woodland views. Embracing NW Contemporary style, the living room greets you with a dramatic wall of windows and a cozy gas fireplace. High vaulted ceilings and original cedar and mahogany wood detailing enhance the main level’s warmth and charm. The newly remodeled kitchen brings in eco-friendly Caesarstone countertops, added storage, and sleek modern cabinetry, plus an oversized slider to a deck off of the dining room - perfect for indoor/outdoor entertaining. The private office rounds out the main level with built-in shelves and a peaceful view. Upstairs leads to the spacious primary bedroom with its own walk-in closet, sitting area, and skylight, adding to the natural ambiance in every weather. The second bedroom on this level includes its own bathroom, thoughtful storage, and exceptional views of the trees. Downstairs you will find two additional bedrooms, a laundry room, and the third full bathroom. Located in the highly sought-after Ainsworth Elementary School District and just blocks away from miles of scenic hiking trails through Pittock Acres, Macleay Park, Hoyt Arboretum, and Forest Park, this home is a true nature lover’s paradise. Enjoy the tranquility of the forest while living close to the city and have the best of both worlds! Open Sunday 11-1. [Home Energy Score = 5. HES Report at https://rpt.greenbuildingregistry.com/hes/OR10121957]
RMLS #19133043
Dec 27, 2019
Sold
$760,000
$329/sq ft
Nov 25, 2019
Pending
—
Nov 3, 2019
Listed
$758,000
$328/sq ft
Stunning modern showpiece built among the trees in 1970 by architect Richard Steinberg. Original mahogany and cedar detailing throughout, the house is a bright & warm retreat. Views out every window with decks and patios nestled perfectly in the forest. The Sylvan Tree House is an entertainer's dream. Come perch with all your guests, there is room for all in this secluded home just above the city. [Home Energy Score = 5. HES Report at https://rpt.greenbuildingregistry.com/hes/OR10121957]
Public Records
May 17, 2002
Sold
$335,000
$145/sq ft
Public Records
May 1, 1990
Sold
$160,000
$69/sq ft
Year
Property tax
Land + Additions
Assessment*
2025
$12,950 (+3.7%)
2024
$12,484 (+4.0%)
2023
$12,004 (+2.2%)
2022
$11,744 (+1.7%)
2021
$11,546 (+9.0%)
2020
$10,591 (+8.7%)
2019
$9,744 (+5.7%)
2018
$9,223 (+4.3%)
2017
$8,839 (+9.3%)
2016
$8,088 (+2.7%)
2015
$7,876 (+1.5%)
2014
$7,757 (+11.6%)
2013
$6,951 (+15.9%)
2012
$5,999 (−2.6%)
2011
$6,157 (−1.5%)
2010
$6,250 (+2.7%)
2009
$6,085
Public record
Public record
Zoning
Permits
Beds
4
Baths
3
Stories
2
Lot width
—
Lot depth
—
Lot size
0.43 Acres
Year renovated
2016
Finished Sq. Ft.
2,506
Unfinished Sq. Ft.
—
Total Sq. Ft.
2,506
Year built
1970
Style
Single Family Residential
County
Multnomah County
APN
R327089
Parking Spaces
—
Basement
—
Accessible
—
HOA Dues
—
Garage
—
Features
—
Last updated by owner on Oct 5, 2026.
R20
C
Z
Residential 20,000 Zone
The single-dwelling zones are intended to preserve land for housing and to provide housing opportunities for individual households. The zones implement the comprehensive plan policies and designations for single-dwelling housing and provide options for infill housing that is compatible with the scale of the single-dwelling neighborhood.
Zone overlays
Environmental Conservation Overlay Zone
Constrained Sites Overlay Zone
Permitted uses
Include but are not limited to:
Housing
Nov 30, 2023 • Final
Residential bldg/trade
Electrical
Plumbing
Remodel
Mar 14, 2023 • Final
Mechanical
Replace the furnace.
HVAC
Permit history is from public records and may be incomplete or inaccurate. Redfin and its agents make no representations about the property condition or permit status. Buyers should independently verify all information.
Climate risks
1/10 Flood Factor
Minimal risk of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
1/10 Fire Factor
Unlikely to be in a wildfire in next 30 years
1/10 Heat Factor
3 days above 91° expected this year, 6 days in 30 years
1/10 Wind Factor
Minimal risk of severe winds over next 30 years
10/10 Air Factor
19 unhealthy days expected this year, 20 days in 30 years
Provided by First Street
Historical weather
Portland, OR • 97221
Average low and high temperatures (°F)
45
35
47
37
54
41
62
44
67
48
73
53
79
56
82
60
74
56
60
47
50
42
48
40
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sun exposure
73/ 100
Good sunlight
Sunscore
There appears to be minimal shading by surrounding buildings, terrain, and vegetation.
8.1 hrs
3.5 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 4915 SW Barnes Rd
$844,964
$4,936 under list price of $850K
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $780K to $945K.