The Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) has selected four new projects for Metro’s Regional Housing Bond funding that will create 267 new units of affordable housing in North and Southwest Portland. The selected projects will include an estimated 214 rental units and 53 new affordable homeownership units.
In 2018, the City of Portland was granted $211 million from Metro’s regional affordable housing bond with the goal of creating 1,475 units of affordable housing, including 605 deeply affordable units at 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) and 737 family-sized units. Additionally, the City established a goal of creating 300 units of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) through Metro Housing Bond funds.
With the addition of these projects, PHB expects to surpass the goals set for total affordable units, family-sized units, and Permanent Supportive Housing units, and achieve 95% of the target set for deeply affordable units at 30% AMI or below. The remaining $48 million in Portland’s allocation of Metro Bond funds is earmarked for future developments.
“Stable, equitable housing opportunities are key to our shared economic recovery. This is a critical time for so many Portlanders struggling with housing instability and economic uncertainty. This slate of projects responds to the urgency of this moment with ingenuity and innovation,” said Housing Commissioner Carmen Rubio. “Thank you to the Portland Housing Bureau, Metro, and the voters who have continued to support funding measures for vital affordable housing resources.”
Last September, PHB issued a solicitation for $26 million in Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds and $13.7 million in Interstate Corridor funds. The solicitation also included four sites owned by Metro, PHB, and a parcel donated by Kaiser Permanente, located in the Housing Bureau’s N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy area next to the Kaiser Permanente campus on N. Interstate Avenue. The bureau invited development partners to submit proposals for affordable rental and homeownership housing that would advance Portland’s goals for Metro’s Affordable Housing Bond as well as its N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy. The selected projects additionally align with the Portland Housing Bureau’s commitment to advancing racial equity.
The projects also utilize significant contributions from several public agencies, including 50 Project-based rental assistance vouchers from Home Forward, as well as services and rental assistance funds for 15 PSH units from the Supportive Housing Services Measure through the Joint Office of Homeless Services.
“Each of these projects represents the work and dedication of many organizations and community partners coming together to meet the diverse housing needs of Portlanders, and especially our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, families with children, and our neighbors experiencing chronic homelessness,” said Interim Portland Housing Bureau director Molly Rogers. “We are proud to partner with Metro and these community-serving organizations to provide this new affordable housing to Portlanders and we thank Kaiser Permanente for their generous donation of land.”
Two projects slated for development in North Portland—the Carey Blvd site and the Strong Family property—have received conditional awards, based on additional requirements for homeownership adjustments to their proposals.
“Increasing homeownership opportunities in North and Northeast Portland, and bridging the homeownership gap for BIPOC households, is a priority for the City and the N/NE Oversight Committee. I’m thrilled to see these projects incorporating opportunities for first-time homebuyers,” said Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan. “Families, Communities of Color, and Portlanders exiting houselessness will all benefit from these new housing options supported by the Metro Bond—I can’t wait to see how each and every resident adds their unique life experience to build a healthier, more resilient community.”
PHB will submit the four proposals for concept endorsement by Metro, whose approval is expected to take 30-45 days.
“The Portland Housing Bureau and our development partners have been instrumental in addressing our region’s No. 1 need – more housing. These projects, funded through the voter-approved Metro housing bond, are a testament to the power of partnership addressing our most urgent crisis. I’m excited that we are on pace to exceed our promises to the voters and look forward to even more progress in the months to come,” said Metro Council president Lynn Peterson.
Selected Projects (contingent upon Metro’s concept endorsement approvals):
• Carter Commons – named after Oregon’s first Black woman legislator, Margaret Louise Carter. Carter Commons will deliver 62 units of senior housing to the Overlook Neighborhood for N/NE Preference Policy households. The project, located on Land donated by Kaiser Permanente, will have low barriers to entry, and more than one-third of the units will be affordable at extremely low incomes (30% AMI or below) with community and resident services provided by the Urban League.
• Strong Family Site – the proposed project offers 75 rental units, 11 of which will be affordable to households earning 30% AMI or below. 72% of the units will be family-sized with two or more bedrooms. Resident services and community outreach will be provided by SEI. Including homeownership opportunities on this site is a priority of the N/NE Oversight Committee and supported by PHB. As such, the project sponsors will continue to research how the proposal could include rental and homeownership units and pursue additional partnerships. Click here for full project profile.
• Carey Blvd Site – the proposed project consists of a clustered arrangement of 53 townhomes with two to four bedrooms. All townhomes would be affordable to households earning up to 60% AMI. Proud Ground would ensure permanent affordability via a community land trust, and First Republic Bank would lend to the homebuyers at a reduced, fixed rate. PHB has offered a conditional award for the development team to pursue the inclusion of some detached single-family homes as well. Click here for full project profile.
• Portland Value Inn – this redevelopment proposal would turn the Portland Value Inn site into a 77-unit, multi-family rental development targeting families. 50 units have at least 2 bedrooms, and 39 units will be affordable to households with incomes at 30% AMI or below. The proposal includes 15 Supportive Housing units for families with a head of household with a disabling condition who are exiting long term, literal homelessness. CPAH and HAKI will offer resident services, HAKI will lead outreach efforts, and Urban League will provide case management and Supportive Housing services.
