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The American Planning Association has designated Portland’s Ladd’s Addition neighborhood as one of its 10 for 2009.

I guess the APA has never had the pleasure of trying to drive through Ladd’s Addition, which is the Portland equivalent to the . That’s because its unique radial street pattern was never meant for auto use.

One of Portland’s oldest residential areas started its life as a Victorian-era park, which is why it’s also the most heavily forested city neighborhood. Former area landowner and Portland Mayor William S. Ladd decided to subdivide the area in 1891 and followed ‘s plan for Washington D.C., using roads to create a spoked wheel arrangement. As a result, Ladd’s Addition roads are routed diagonally around four small rose gardens with a larger rose garden in the center.

Over the years, many beautiful Craftsman, Mission, Tudor and bungalow homes were constructed in the 128-acre area, making it the architecturally stunning neighborhood it is today.

Ladd’s Addition should definitely be on your short list of places to take a walk once the sun is out. But forget trying to drive there. Unless, of course, you enjoy driving around in circles.

Ladd’s Addition isn’t the only Northwest neighborhood to get APA kudos. Browne’s Addition in Spokane, Wash. was also recognized for it cultural diversity, as well as its mix of mansions and low-rise apartment buildings.