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To real estate broker Sean Becker, the South Waterfront District isn’t up-and-coming; it has arrived.

That’s why Becker, a principal broker of Sean Z. Becker Real Estate at Realty Trust Group, is confident that the neighborhood is ready for its own real estate office. Last month, he purchased a 2,018-square-foot retail space at 3623 S.W. River Parkway under John Ross condominiums. He’s renovating the space and planning to open an office with six staffers by the end of September.

鈥淣ow you have a real neighborhood,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was missing a real estate office. All these inner-city neighborhoods 鈥� have a neighborhood real estate office. This neighborhood was left out.鈥�

Becker is banking on his wealth of experience selling residential real estate in the Southwest Portland neighborhood, dating back to 2004 when the first developments started cropping up on former industrial land. He said he’s seen the area transform from a place with no roads, streetlights or retail spaces into a true neighborhood with a mix of apartments and condominiums.

鈥淲hen you sell a home in the South Waterfront you have to sell the neighborhood first,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have to know how to articulate what the neighborhood is about. For someone like me, I think it really adds value to the seller.鈥�

About half of Becker’s business involves South Waterfront properties, and demand for condos is continuing to grow, he said; more than 750 are in the neighborhood.

鈥淭here will be random buyers walking through the neighborhood and nobody knows where to go,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople know where to go to find a home in the Pearl District, but nobody knows where to buy a home in the South Waterfront.鈥�

Although the neighborhood has been criticized () as a failed city planning effort resulting in a ghost town atmosphere with vacant storefronts, Becker said he’s seen the area take off post-recession. He’s also encouraged by continued Oregon Health & Science University development and Tilikum Crossing transit bridge construction.

鈥淔ive years out from now, it’s going to continue to grow 鈥� and hopefully there will be more condos,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he downturn was really hard on this neighborhood, and to see it bounce back like it did is remarkable.鈥�

On a recent afternoon in the South Waterfront children played in the fountain at Elizabeth Caruthers Park, a woman sat on a bench reading a book, people milled about on sidewalks and others rode bikes. Transit riders quickly filled a Portland Streetcar vehicle at the OHSU Commons stop.

Meanwhile, some storefronts had butcher paper on their windows and signs indicating they’re available for lease. However, South Waterfront retail spaces are poised to fill, said Pete Collins, executive director of the South Waterfront Community Relations neighborhood organization. The recent completion of the Collaborative Life Sciences Building and the scheduled completion of the Tilikum Crossing in 2015 will fuel further growth in the neighborhood, he said.

鈥淵ou’re going to see more of a change,鈥� Collins said. 鈥淲e’re just about at a tipping (point) right now. I think it’s really turned a corner.鈥�

Realty Trust Group founding partner Todd Prendergast said the Pearl District-based company became encouraged to open a branch in the South Waterfront after seeing the condo resale market pick up in the neighborhood.

鈥淭he market has matured at this point enough from its original inception,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e believe it makes sense for a retail broker presence.鈥�

Becker for several years thought about opening a real estate office in the South Waterfront as his business continued to grow there. The discovery of an ideal spot on River Parkway cinched the deal.

鈥淚t’s the absolute perfect space for us,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he homes that we sell in this neighborhood are right on these three blocks, and I saw that as a rare opportunity.鈥�

He continues to see substantial interest among prospective buyers for South Waterfront condos over ones in the Pearl District.

鈥淭hey want the ease of the condo lifestyle, but they don’t want the grittiness of the Pearl District,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s a little more polished feeling.鈥�

For vibrancy to increase, the neighborhood must overcome a perception that it’s cut off from the rest of the Portland, Becker said.

鈥淲e’re trying to tie it back to the old neighborhoods so people don’t view it as an out-of-the-way destination,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e want to integrate this into the city and talk about (how) this is another great neighborhood in the city.鈥�