Amazon Neighborhood
The Amazon neighborhood is home to many of the features that make Fairmount one of Eugene’s most-desired neighborhoods. Just a short distance south from the University of Oregon, it’s perfect for graduate students and university employees, but anyone with a family should also put this one at the top of their list. Runners and dog owners (there are a lot of both in Eugene) should also take note.
The neighborhood’s centerpiece is its eponymous urban oasis, Amazon Park. Bike paths, mulched running trails (goodbye shin splints), extensive open space, a swimming pool with water slides, a recreation center and a dog park make it one of Eugene’s premiere city parks. With the later, there’s even a separate fenced area for small dogs and puppies to enjoy. Enjoy golf? Laurelwood Golf Course, the city’s highest-ranked, is just up the hill.
South Eugene High school is right next door to Amazon Park, helping to put this neighborhood over the top. It’s Eugene’s top-ranked public high school, and its open-minded, intellectually-stimulating atmosphere has earned it the affectionate moniker “University of South Eugene.”
Willamette Street just to the west features some of Eugene’s best shopping, including the much-loved Market of Choice. Try 16 Tons Cafe next door for Wandering Goat coffee beer, and crepes, then Nature’s Pet Market to treat Rover or Fido to the best.
Down the block, enjoy a glass of braggot, a beer and mead hybrid, at Viking Braggot Co. then go to Capella Market, one of Eugene’s oldest and most-loved organic groceries. If you’re more toward the north side of the Amazon neighborhood, worry not–there’s yet another organic grocery store, Sundance Natural Foods, with Sundance Wine Cellars next door.
On the east side, Hideaway Bakery is our pick for Eugene’s finest fresh-baked bread and pastries. During the summer, wood-fired oven Tuesdays are an occasion not to miss, with outdoor seating, live music, and unbelievable Neopolitan-style pizzas.
If there’s one word we’d use to describe the Amazon neighborhood, it’s “walkability.” You won’t find anywhere in Eugene with easier access to shopping, recreation, and schools. The real estate isn’t half-bad either: prices tend toward the upper-middle end of what Eugene has to offer, and you’ll find plenty of updated ranch-style homes with spacious yards perfect for gardening. For all of these reasons and more, Amazon is our pick for Eugene’s best neighborhood.
Want to look at the competition? Then check out our complete guide to Eugene neighborhoods. And just let us know if you’d like to view homes in these ‘hoods or anywhere else in Eugene or Bend.