Two New Affordable Housing Projects Move Forward with Portland Housing Bureau Support

(PORTLAND, ORE.) – The Portland Housing Bureau has selected affordable housing projects to be developed on two sites owned by the bureau, which will support the City's efforts to address our affordable housing shortage. The two sites were made available via competitive solicitation earlier this year, with the selection process prioritizing projects which meet the City's goals for the Metro Affordable Housing Bond and community needs and priorities for the Hazelwood and Mt. Tabor neighborhoods.

"Land banking is a critically important and under-appreciated strategy for ensuring an affordable, stable housing system," says Portland Housing Bureau Interim Director Quisha Light. "By holding these two parcels for affordable housing development, we have removed a significant cost barrier for these two exciting new projects, which will meaningfully contribute to Portland's housing ecosystem for decades to come."

View full size image of Map of Portland showing the locations of two new affordable housing developments, Mt. Tabor Annex Townhomes and Cornerstone at Gateway.

In total, the two projects are expected to produce 106 affordable homes, with each project serving different populations and purposes in order to support a diversity of housing options in Portland.

The Mt. Tabor Annex Townhomes, an affordable homeownership opportunity, have been conditionally awarded Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds, bringing the total number of Metro Bond-funded units in Portland to 2,177, exceeding the City's initial goal for the bond by 48%.

In Hazelwood, Cornerstone at Gateway is an affordable rental project that has been conditionally awarded Gateway TIF funds. It the fourth City-funded development in recent years to prioritize low-income older adults, a population shown to be the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness in recent years.

Selected Projects:

View full size image of Architect's watercolor sketch of Cornerstone at Gateway, showing a large open garden with string lights in front of a four-story white apartment building with gabled roofs.

Cornerstone at Gateway
10226 E Burnside St (Council District 1)
Developer/Service Partner: Mercy Housing Northwest
Service Partner: ROSE CDC
Case Management and Referral Partner: Northwest Pilot Project
Architect: Carlton Hart Architecture
General Contractor: Walsh Construction

The initial concept for Cornerstone at Gateway provides 82 one and two-bedroom affordable homes, prioritizing the needs of low-income older adults in the Hazelwood neighborhood; however, the project team will explore the inclusion of larger units for families as well. Supportive services provided by Mercy Housing NW and ROSE CDC will support resident health, wellness, and stability. Rents will be regulated to be affordable for households earning 50% AMI, with 8 units reserved for extremely low-income households at 30% AMI. The site is well-located near transit, groceries, and medical services. The Portland Housing Bureau is awarding this project $8 million in Gateway TIF funding. Click here for full project profile.

Contact MHNW: Nathan Box - 206-602-3488; nathan.box@mercyhousing.org

View full size image of Architect's illustration of the Mt. Tabor Annex Townhomes, showing 25 three-story townhomes around a central courtyard, surrounded by trees, with solar panels on the roofs.

Mt. Tabor Annex Townhomes 
(Contingent upon Metro's concept endorsement)
511 SE 60^th Ave (Council District 3)

Developer: REACH Community Development
Developer/General Contractor: Pahlisch Commercial, Inc. (PCI)
Community Land Trust Partner: Proud Ground

24 new affordable townhomes for purchase will be developed at the former site of the historic Mt. Tabor Annex building. Each townhome will include 3 bedrooms, a garage, and a balcony overlooking a shared central courtyard. The development team is partnering with Proud Ground to provide permanent affordability through the Community Land Trust model. 18 units will be affordable to households earning up to 80% AMI, with 6 reserved for those earning 60% AMI or below. The Portland Housing Bureau is awarding $4.3 million in Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds to this project. Click here for the full project profile.

Contact REACH: Lauren Schmidt - 971-277-7186; lschmidt@reachcdc.org
Contact PCI: Christina Pollack - 503-805-9266; christinap@pahlischcommercial.com

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ABOUT THE PORTLAND HOUSING BUREAU: Guided by a vision that all Portlanders should have equitable access to affordable housing and to the opportunities that a safe, stable home can deliver, the Portland Housing Bureau leads housing policy for the City of Portland and administrates programs to produce affordable rental housing, expand homeownership and stabilize homeowners, and regulate and assist tenants and landlords in the rental housing market. The Portland Housing Bureau is one of several bureaus and programs in the Community and Economic Development service area. This service area aligns City programs focused on building prosperity for all Portlanders. We aim to create and deliver efficient, transparent, and equitable solutions for a resilient built environment – as well as services, resources, and experiences for our community.