Human Solutions – Montavilla News

On November 15th, Bora Architecture & Interiors will host an online meeting regarding the construction of affordable housing on the southwest corner of Portland Community College’s Montavilla campus. This project at 7705 SE Division Street will create 124 apartments contained in a four-story “H” shaped building. The development has space for 33 off-street parking stalls to the north of the building.

Our Just Future, formerly Human Solutions, will develop this housing project in partnership with APANO and Edlen & Co. Preliminary plans show the building massed towards SE Division Street with a green buffer zone along SE 77th Avenue. Apartments should range in size from studio units to three-bedroom family residences. All units are designated affordable and open to people outside the PCC student body.

*^{Image courtesy of Bora Architecture & Interiors}*

In 2021, Portland Community College (PCC) applied to the City of Portland for Early Assistance on this housing project. PCC acquired the property from the German American Society in May 2010. Kaiser Permanente maintained a lease for the one-story building on the site until 2014. Midway through 2015, PCC began the process of demolishing the building and adding vehicle stalls to the existing parking lot. The area currently serves as auxiliary parking for the college and extended green space for the campus.

Tonight’s meeting will allow community members to learn more about the project and ask questions. People can attend the Zoom meeting via a computer or smartphone and by calling in with a standard phone. The one-hour gathering starts at 6 p.m. Connection details are at the Montavilla Neighborhood Association website.

Jacob Loeb

At the end of 2021, Portland Community College (PCC) applied to the City of Portland for Early Assistance on a housing project located at 7705 SE Division Street. That process helps developers submit building permit applications that successfully meet City standards. The proposed development would construct approximately 100 affordable apartments within a single four-story building at a maximum height of 45′. Planners expect to provide around 30 surface parking spaces for the residents.

PCC acquired the property from the German American Society in May of 2010. Kaiser Permanente maintained a lease for the one-story building on the site until 2014. Midway through 2015, PCC began the process of demolishing the building and adding vehicle stalls to the existing parking lot. The area currently serves as auxiliary parking for the college and extended green space for the campus.

Last year, PCC staff worked to develop a twenty-year facilities plan for the educational institution’s properties. During that evaluation, PCC determined that portions of the school grounds should support low-income affordable housing. Instead of student-only dormitories, they opted to focus on attainable housing open to the public. From internal surveys of students, PCC staff learned that housing insecurity is a significant concern. They also observed that students often spread their education out over many years with inconsistent enrollment. Consequentially, PCC determined that tying housing programs to school affiliation would not help alleviate the housing insecurities among the student population. Instead, they feel creating more affordable housing inventory would provide better results.

Human Solutions and Bora Architects+Interiors are assisting PCC with early-stage planning. Efforts to design the building will begin next year. However, preliminary work masses the building towards SE Division Street with a green buffer zone along SE 77th Avenue. Designers are considering stepping down the building on SE Sherman Street to help blend in with the residential scale of that street. Apartments should range in size from studio units to three-bedroom family residences.

For the next twelve months, developers will continue to work with the community and design a housing project that serves residents, PCC, and the surrounding community. Final plans should materialize during the Summer of 2023, with construction following in Fall 2023. Interested community members should keep an eye out for future engagement opportunities.

Jacob Loeb

Article cover image from Portland Maps

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