Work is underway to prepare the property at 8413 NE Hassalo Street to support four new townhomes. Demolition specialists recently removed a garage on the large corner lot, clearing the way for the new housing on NE 84th Avenue. The developer will utilize a Middle Housing Land Division (MHLD) process to split the 4,825-square-foot parcel into four distinct lots for individual sale, retaining the 1,768-square-foot 1908-era two-story home on a separate 5,321-square-foot tract. This project adds four new housing units offering future buyers nearly 1,200 square feet of living space while preserving a classic house.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustrations showing 8425 NE Hassalo St outlined in red and approximate location of 8413 NE Hassalo St lot division in dark blue
Area developer, Rees Bettinger, purchased the 15,700 square foot century-old property in May, splitting two adjacent lots, selling the undeveloped 8425 NE Hassalo Street parcel east of the house to NW Development for another housing project. Cascade Homes NW is assisting the new owner of 8413 NE Hassalo Street, Novus Cottages LLC, in developing the corner property while preserving and improving the existing single-family residence. A property line adjustment submitted in June will carve out a new 4,825-square-foot parcel from the north portion of that project site. That change will create a 50-foot-wide lot off NE 84th Avenue that will narrow at the rear to allow space around the back of the existing home. That northern property will host the four new three-bedroom townhomes. Each unit will have two full bathrooms upstairs for residents and a half-bath on the main floor.
Crews are currently remodeling the older house, adding two new bedrooms and one bathroom to the second story and updating the exterior envelope of the building. Now that crews have removed old cladding, passersby can see the signs of closed-off windows and other adjustments made to the old home over its long stint in the Montavilla area. Future housing will surround the once-greenery-rich corner lot, providing housing density without compromising the existing primary structure that helped define the area. People will continue to see housing density in this Residential Multi-Dwelling 2 zoned section of the neighborhood, which supports multifamily housing up to four stories tall and has minimum housing unit requirements for redevelopment.
New townhouse’s addresses: 1122 NE 84th Avenue 1124 NE 84th Avenue 1126 NE 84th Avenue 1128 NE 84th Avenue
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As renovation crews make significant progress on the 1927-era single-family home at 1006 NE 72nd Avenue, the new owners look to split the underlying lots at its historic demarcation point. The modest house sits approximately two feet from the proposed property line, necessitating an exception that is currently under consideration by Portland Permitting & Development. If approved, the existing home would occupy a 25-foot-wide parcel, leaving a 37-foot by 100-foot property to the north for future sale and development.
Site map from LU 25-042546 application for setback requirement adjustment to split the lot
Kimco Properties purchased the 894-square-foot house in March and began making improvements. Contractors replaced the sewer line and installed a bathroom in the basement. That update, along with other work in the main living area, created three total bathrooms where the original home had just one. The nearly century-old structure — with a similar width to modern infill homes — now stands renewed with new steps on the way and a back deck.
Two lots from the original Brainard subdivision constitute the NE 72nd Avenue site, and Kimco Properties sought to utilize a Lot Confirmation (PR 25-053270 LC) to separate the underlying parcels. A lot confirmation verifies one or more lots previously combined by past owners for tax purposes, and the process can reestablish a historic lot line. Developers often see it as a more straightforward process for division compared to using the property line adjustment (PLA) process. However, the city requires a lot confirmation review to ensure any existing development meets city standards after the separation of the parcels. In this case, the reestablished lot line was just over two feet from the house’s exterior wall and right at the roof’s overhang. City code specifies that the minimum distance of a wall from a new property line should be five feet, and three feet for an eave, in this zone. The requirement provides a ten-foot distance between houses. Exceptions to this rule are not uncommon as long as they meet established standards, and new development on the adjacent lot can mitigate the impact of placing the lot line so close to the original building’s edge.
After crews complete the renovations at 1006 NE 72nd Avenue, the property is expected to return to the real estate market for sale. If City staff approve LU 25-042546 AD, then the new property could sell to a housing developer, or Kimco Properties could build on it in the future. This company is a frequent creator of housing in the neighborhood under the FX Homes name.
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In late July, Oregon Metro purchased a 1.46-acre property at the intersection of SE 90th Place and SE 89th Avenue. Crews recently installed a chainlink fence around the sloped lot and cut back the overgrown greenery that dominated this parcel. Over the next two years, Metro’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) team will collaborate with partner developers to introduce new affordable housing at the site, which will incorporate open neighborhood greenspace. In the coming months, deconstruction specialists will raze the dilapidated 1928-era home at 2815 SE 90th Place and demolish the metal-clad barn on the property. The next phase of pre-construction work will build on previous community engagement to guide the development team in meeting area residents’ needs.
Portland Maps graphic with 2815 SE 90th Place outlined in blue
The nearly 100-year-old 720-square-foot building faces the curb-less SE 90th Place on the high point of the property. The small single-story home sits atop a daylight basement that opens up to the south of the property. Vehicles access the barn from a gravel road segment of SE 89th Avenue that currently extends along the property’s entire western frontage and 100 feet south. The City of Portland has not accepted this unimproved road into its maintenance network. However, work on The Jade apartments across the street will include paving on its half of the street and sidewalk installation along the new workforce-priced housing’s frontage. Andrea Pastor, Metro’s Senior Development Project Manager of Housing and TOD, explained that Metro is coordinating with Gorman & Company to extend the street paving work across the whole road width when they do their road construction for The Jade apartments. The asphalt surface will terminate at a new curb on the eastern edge of SE 87th Avenue near where the new fence line marks the property’s edge. This enhanced infrastructure will provide a more stable roadway constructed to city standards for people rolling or walking through this area. When completed, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) can then take over street maintenance, filling a long-disruptive gap in the street network previously made rough by potholes and wheel ruts.
SE 89th Avenue’s gravel road with potholes
A 2018 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded study titled “Greening The Jade” identified the unimproved segment of SE 89th Avenue north of SE Brooklyn Street as a prime redevelopment opportunity for sustainable housing and a public park. Pastor said that this put the 2815 SE 90th Place property on Metro’s watch list for a future acquisition. “We saw it come up on the market and we were able to approach the seller pretty quickly, and they were open to it,” recalled Pastor. She explained that Metro fenced its property to keep people safe as they clean up the field from its former uses and to prevent individuals from entering the unsafe structures on the site. Redevelopment will take a few years as the TOD team plans for housing at the site and seeks development partners.
Pastor explained that Metro’s regional housing bond, approved by voters in 2018, successfully spent its $652.8 million budget delivering affordable housing in three counties. However, the region lacks a replacement for that program, and the Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) program funds are allocated through the middle of 2027, possibly delaying the construction for two years without some creativity. “We are left wondering about other resources. If you think about it in established funding routes, looking at a rental project that has to have tax credits and LIFT, we would be looking at maybe mid-2027 for groundbreaking,” said Pastor, noting that speedy housing development is critical to Metro’s goals. “We are definitely exploring options for moving faster than that because we know we’re in a housing emergency, and we need as much housing as quickly as possible. We’re interested in thinking about what are some alternative models we can pursue in terms of financing. Can we move quickly, prioritizing quality of course, but cost efficiency and speed?”
2815 SE 90th Place
Pastor explained that Metro purchased the land along SE 89th Avenue using an allocation provided by the Oregon State legislature for a revolving acquisition fund around 82nd Avenue. “With all of the improvements happening on 82nd, including the planning of the new transit, we wanted to prioritize the area. So we made a specific legislative ask back in 2023 for some funds to buy land near 82nd,” said Pastor. “We have been basically looking and making offers on properties in the area for the last couple of years.” She notes that Metro has often owned land around transit with the intention of developing it. “We are trying to think of ourselves as a regional land bank specifically aimed at building affordable housing near transit. Our program focus has shifted in the last few years, but we’re really not doing anything that different from what Metro has been doing in this space for decades.”
As Metro adjusts its programs, the staff will look at ways to extend the useful life span of public investment. “In the past, we’ve typically just written down the value of the land and conveyed it to the developer if they’re doing affordable [housing]. The program has basically been trying to spur development, but now we are trying to make this idea sustainable. It’s simply not that sustainable for us to continue to give land away for free,” said Pastor. She explained that they are consulting development partners to explore how programs can deliver housing while potentially repaying public investment. Repayment could become part of the project lending structure, or developers could pay back Metro’s investment over a period of time. “It could be 15 years. It could be a ground lease. We’re open to structuring those deals in a number of different ways, but in a way that we can make this a revolving fund of money that is able to continually buy new properties along this corridor. The $5 million that we received is nowhere near enough to really meet the need for how much housing we really need,” Pastor said.
Metro expects to work with a single developer on this new project in the Jade District. Still, it could offer a mix of multifamily or single-family units with affordable home ownership options. The sloped lot and land dedication to PBOT for the modern streets and sidewalks reduces the buildable land to around an acre. So the vast open lot will not support a large housing complex. They also anticipate providing some on-site parking to minimize the impact on neighbors from the increase in housing density. However, incorporating green space into the development is a key consideration. They are communicating with Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services, which owns the lot to the south of this property. It serves as a natural stormwater detention area where plants and soil help absorb the area’s rainwater. It also contains a sewer pump facility that requires 24-hour security for community safety and asset protection. Depending on the City’s flexibility, designers could incorporate green space on Metro’s land to extend into the City-owned land without compromising security.
Property with new fence
Portlanders in the area can anticipate future Metro conversations about 2815 SE 90th Place as they determine the appropriate development path. They will also consider leasing the land to an organization with suitable insurance and liability coverage to use the site until construction begins. In the short term, neighbors will see the unsafe structures removed and eventually a new paved road on SE 89th Avenue. The construction phase relies on a yet-to-be-determined development partner’s ability to secure funding and deliver a proposal that meets Metro’s goals for affordable transit-oriented housing at this site.
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In January 2024, a fire destroyed Barrio Bar and damaged the surrounding Portland Mercado building at 7238 SE Foster Road. Since then, Portland residents have eagerly awaited the dining destination’s restoration and worried as the once vibrant space sat empty. Repair work and improvements began in May, with Summit Reconstruction & Restoration crews continuing to work through the summer thanks to a Prosper Portland grant. The non-profit site operator, Hacienda CDC, recently began fundraising to complete the needed repairs that include enhancements to the space. The organization is currently soliciting tenant applications for the interior units, along with food cart operators to surround the property. When crews complete principal construction at the end of spring 2026, the improved two-story building will feature a new commissary kitchen, enhanced community gathering areas, a ground-floor bar, and rooftop bar space with adjacent terrace seating. Later in summer 2026, after tenants have settled into the space and crews complete site work, the Portland Mercado will welcome back guests for a grand reopening.
This current fundraising effort is the second request for post-fire public support. The Portland Mercado Fire Relief Fund closed in January 2024 after raising a reported $255,726 from individuals, businesses, and foundations. That money helped the displaced operators and did not contribute meaningfully to the reconstruction efforts. Now the project needs additional support from community members and grants to realize the plans for a rebuilt and improved destination on SE Foster Road.
Matt Kebbe, with Hacienda CDC, explained that the new space will build upon the successes of its past iterations, while also aiming to enhance the food hall and cart pod property to accommodate more guests and provide opportunities for expanded site activation. He anticipates collaborating with future tenants to create space for a coffee shop or bakery, allowing the Mercado to open earlier than its traditional lunch and dinner service. They are also looking to cultivate a chef’s table type space for experiential dining. “I think if we can pull off an inside chef’s counter, that would be really exciting, and the neighborhood would enjoy seeing that. It could be a space where we host pop-ups. So, a chef could do a residency there for a month or two, or whatever duration they’re interested in. It also gives us an opportunity to showcase some up-and-coming chefs and give them an opportunity to present their food to people,” said Kebbe.
Although the Portland Mercado will feature new tenants, the operators have an interest in seeing as many of the former occupants return as feasible. The displaced businesses include Havana Station, Fernando’s Alegria, Principe Maya, Tierra del Sol, Que Bacano, XoCOTL, Tita’s Kitchen, and Barrio. Some of the culturally rich culinary destinations impacted show intentions of returning next year based on their social media and websites. However, other operators have found new locations or other work. Barrio Bar’s owner, Chris Shimamoto, took a position at the Publican Beer Room within the Collective Oregon Eateries (CORE) food hall on SE 82nd Avenue. He continues to cultivate his community at CORE, and former regulars still make the track to his new professional home.
Rebuilt Portland Mercado building rendering courtesy Hacienda CDC
The rebuilt Portland Mercado building will offer divisible space for six or seven tenants inside the structure. The most significant expansion of the commercial space comes from converting the second-story office area into a second bar location that will extend into a covered rooftop terrace. Kebbe explained that they hope a single tenant will run the upper and lower bar service. The management group is also considering reorienting the food cart stalls to expand to the edges and face inward. That would help buffer the space from traffic and add more safety to guests. “I would like to enclose the whole property and create a courtyard out there, so the food carts would reorient towards the sides and towards the roads. We could put some fake leaves [on a fence], or find the funds to build a really gorgeous wall and provide more of a security component to it and a barrier from traffic for the safety of families and small children,” Kebbe said.
Food cart pod covering in old configuration
Work on restoring the main building, which the fire significantly damaged, is progressing according to City-approved plans, aiming to have the tenant take over the space. Those businesses will take over the remainder of the finishing process to meet the specific needs of that group. However, some of the future site enhancements are dependent on financial support from the community and grants Hacienda CDC will pursue. “We’re just really excited for the Mercado 2.0. We think it’s going to be a great opportunity for us to not only bring back things in a way that the community members remember, but we have some improvements that we think that’s going to make it an even better experience,” said Kebbe. However, he noted, “fundraising is really critical to keep the project rolling at this point.”
Kebbe explained that the Portland Mercado is more than a food cart pod and commercial space, requiring other sources of funding than a traditional business location. The operation has maintained a focus on creating accessible opportunities for small businesses breaking into foodservice entrepreneurship. “We’re trying to figure out how to help people create businesses. There’s always been an ethos of the Mercado that has been an incubator or a jumping-off point for people. We’re not envisioning this in an incubator model but still providing opportunities for people to get in and experience running a business in a convenient turnkey environment.”
Work on the Portland Mercado will continue well into 2026, but site operators are exploring ways to bring some cart vendors on-site before the project’s completion. Kebbe noted that having early tenants is complicated due to construction schedules and worker access, but he would like to see the site active again as soon as possible. He also wants to restore the space as a community resource, where it can host farmers’ markets and other events for the growing population in the area. People should expect significant progress to be completed in spring 2026, followed by places opening to customers in the summer months.
Framing crews have made significant progress on the 40-unit complex at 2905 SE 89th Avenue. This joint venture between APANO and Gorman & Company will transform a 1.1-acre property into affordable family apartments in a dual courtyard configuration. Construction will continue on The Jade apartments throughout the year, with an anticipated opening date in 2026. The developers intend to create a healthy and sustainable community with solar panels providing the bulk of residential power and families having ample access to green space.
Fifteen units in the new apartment building will offer family-sized accommodations with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The developers will also create 14 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom flats, each with a single bathroom. Residents can access various site amenities, including a bike room, package lockers, and resident services offices. People can also use a community room, two courtyards, and outdoor areas with a garden and play area for children. Larger apartments have in-unit washer and dryer appliances. The building offers laundry rooms on each floor for the rest of the residents.
Renderings courtesy Gorman & Co
The developers will reserve all units in the three-story building for people earning 80% or below the median family income (MFI) for Portland. That commitment keeps rents from exceeding levels set annually based on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) calculations, but does not fit what people consider low-income housing. Based on 2023 numbers, one of the development’s three-bedroom apartments would cost up to $2,347 monthly. At those rates, these homes support the working families often priced out of modern apartments west of Interstate 205.
A 2018 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded study of the Jade District identified the unimproved segment of SE 89th Avenue north of SE Brooklyn Street as a prime redevelopment opportunity for sustainable housing and a new public park. APANO is the fiscal sponsor of the Jade District Neighborhood Prosperity Network (NPN) and used the 2018 data with community input to pursue development opportunities in this area. With the help of Gorman & Company’s nearly 40 years of experience creating housing, APANO will begin work on what was envisioned for this part of the Jade District seven years ago.
The Jade apartments Aug. 7th, 2025
This area contains a multitude of housing with buildings around the site ranging from farmhouses to multifamily buildings. The architect worked to create a design matching its environment while still providing the desired housing density. “The building will have a residential character, and we’ve subdivided the masses to be consistent with the other buildings in the neighborhood,” explained Kevin Kellogg, Gorman & Company’s Market President for the Pacific Northwest. People will access the apartment’s upper floors through a central stairway, and a courtyard facing an open-air walkway connects the units. “Each of the courtyards has a unique character. One of them, we call the living room courtyard, and the other one is the family room courtyard,” said Kellogg. The ground floor will house the site’s accessible units and its 32 on-site parking stalls, half of which are partially covered by solar panels.
Renderings courtesy Gorman & Co
The developers are targeting a Net Zero certification for the building, making it environmentally friendly and resilient to changing weather conditions. “Our goal is for it to be as low maintenance and energy efficient as possible,” said Kellogg. The environmental goals also align with APANO’s goals for the Jade District. “We’re working to build the most climate-friendly, transit-rich, and affordable neighborhood we can. We feel this complements our work at PCC, Canton Grill, and the Orchards,” explained Duncan Hwang, Community Development Director at APANO.
Framers comple 3rd floor framing including a covered exterior hallway looking into a courtyard Sept. 15, 2025
This apartment complex will become the fourth housing project in the Jade District for APANO. The organization is interested in having a mixed-income neighborhood, and this project fits the need for workforce-priced housing. Other projects built by the organization or in development support lower-income renters. APANO often partners with other organizations in creating and managing developments. In this case, Gorman & Company will provide asset management and compliance, with APANO providing resident services.
In addition to improving housing availability in the area, this project will create public right-of-way improvements. Towards the end of the project, crews will construct new sidewalks along the frontage and build a portion of the paved street. These infrastructure upgrades will move the area closer to completing a disconnected street and sidewalk network that inhibits travel along SE 89th Avenue. Walkable access is a primary feature of this building, which is blocks away from the Fubonn grocery store and frequent public transit. Look for continued improvements to this area as work progresses on The Jade apartments.
This infrastructure work is the final phase of a multi-step project that includes sidewalk construction along the south side of SE Washington Street, updates to three sidewalk corners featuring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps, and creation of a curb extension for the northeast corner of SE Washington Street at SE 80th Avenue. The pedestrian zone extension at SE 80th will push the intersection corner into the adjacent parking lane to better align with the recently rebuilt northwest corner and shorten the crosswalk distance for people crossing SE Washington Street.
In 2024, crews completed previous phases of project work, installing a sump maintenance hole at the intersection of SE 81st Avenue and SE Washington Street. Around that time, contractors working on the 70s Greenway project installed an enhanced crossing point for SE Washington Street at SE 80th Avenue featuring rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB) that cyclists and pedestrians can activate to alert motorists of their intent to enter the roadway.
Sanborn Map overview from 1909
The lack of sidewalks along these two blocks stems from the early platting of Montavilla. In pre-twentieth-century uses, these adjacent parcels existed in a superblock bordered by Base Line Road(now SE Stark Street), 82nd Avenue, Taylor Street, and 80th Avenue. It later became part of the Goodhue Park land division. Now they host Milwaukie Lumber’s lumberyard storage and an Atlas Motors used car lot. Both businesses have frequent curb-cuts for driveway access that cement masons will recreate when pouring concrete for new sidewalks.
Buses and cyclists will lose access to the south side curb-adjacent lane in the project area while crews work in the area. Drivers already gained a through and right-turn combined lane during the recent reconfiguration of SE Washington Street at 82nd Avenue, which should remain open during construction. This sidewalk infill work will enhance pedestrian and transit access to the area while making safer crossing points. Work is weather-dependent, and delays could prolong the bus stop closure. Riders should continue to check TriMet’s website or trip planner until the stop reopens.
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Crews with the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) recently completed concrete work on sidewalk corner ramps along the west side of NE 87th Avenue from NE Hassalo Street to NE Glisan Street. These Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps create a mostly accessible path through a section of Montavilla with inconsistent pedestrian infrastructure. The northeast section of the neighborhood’s connectivity is further burdened by two freeways bordering it to the east and north. The heavy traffic of NE 82nd Avenue and NE Glisan Street surrounds the other edges of these blocks, creating challenges for people traveling in this area outside of a car.
Northeast corner NE Glisan St and 87th AveNorthwest corner NE Glisan St and 87th Ave
Cement masons reconstructed eight sidewalk corners along NE 87th Avenue and added a mid-block curb ramp on the south side of NE Glisan Street across from the northeast corner of 87th Avenue at the NE Glisan intersection. This project creates an opportunity for a near-continuously paved north-south pedestrian path between NE Hassalo Street and NE Glisan Street, intersecting with NE Pacific and Holladay Streets. However, missing paved sidewalks on the northern edges of 8631 and 8636 NE Holladay Street will require pedestrians to walk through the grassy lawns of these homes to connect from the new ADA curb ramps to the existing paved sidewalks. Future redevelopment of those properties could require the installation of new sidewalks, completing the pedestrian connection.
Image from Portland Maps showing planned paving of NE 87th Ave in purple
This corner work is taking place ahead of other planned street improvements. Portland Maps indicates PBOT intends to repave NE 87th Avenue from NE Flanders Street to NE Hassalo Street. That future work, along with the curb ramp improvements, will strengthen NE 87th Avenue in its role as a Neighborhood Greenway. It is one of the few crossings on NE Glisan Street in the neighborhood with a traffic signal light or Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) to help people cross the busy roadway. People traveling outside a car should now feel more comfortable using NE 87th Avenue to navigate the neighborhood, thanks to these transportation bureau investments.
NE 87th Ave at Pacific StNE 87th Ave at Holladay StNE 87th Ave at Hassalo St
Correction: An earlier version of this article had NE 87th Avenue noted as NE 78th Avenue in one location. That typo has been corrected.
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On August 18th, demolition crews began razing the single-story sales office and shop at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue to make room for the second Multnomah County-owned shelter site in Montavilla. After workers remove the 1964-era single-story building, last used as an RV sales location, the Multnomah County Homeless Services Department will begin preparing the site to support a new sober shelter that Do Good Multnomah will operate. That development will take place during the 2025-2026 winter season, creating utility connections for 38 single-occupancy shelters with supporting portable sanitation and cooking facilities.
Multnomah County purchased the former recreational vehicle dealership at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue in December 2022 for $2.015 million. This 34,000-square-foot parcel was the second Montavilla location the County bought that year for temporary shelter services. The other shelter, Oak Street Village at 333 SE 82nd Avenue, opened in February and is currently operating at full capacity. The Joint Office of Homeless Services — now renamed the Homeless Services Department — has held several community meetings, with the most recent meeting in April announcing that Do Good Multnomah would operate the site as a sober shelter. Presenters explained that residents and staff are subject to drug testing, and policy strictly prohibits the possession of non-prescribed intoxicants on the property.
Selecting a sober format meets a specific need for people transitioning into stable housing who are in recovery from substance use disorder, and it better matches community desires for the site, which is located near two schools. The project designers will set back the new seven-foot-high chain-link fence on SE Mill Street to allow for more sidewalk-adjacent plantings, providing a buffer space and allowing for greater resident privacy beyond the plastic fence inserts that will obscure sightlines from the street.
Demolition work continues at the property for the rest of the week. Early plans intended to salvage portions of the wood roof structure above the glass curtain walls for reuse in covered outdoor amenities on the site. That level of salvage and reuse may prove challenging, but the methodical approach to tearing down this building could indicate the intention to preserve reusable materials.
Article and photos by
Jacob Loeb
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On July 31st, the City of Portland approved a Middle Housing Land Division (MHLD) application at 1004 NE 70th Avenue, creating four new lots. Rees Bettinger Properties recently constructed three single-family homes behind the 1950-era single-story house at this address. Each new two-story structure offers an open-concept main level with two bedrooms and a stacked laundry closet on the second floor. Each bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower. The architect placed a half-bathroom under the staircase on the first floor that extends out beyond the eastern wall of the center two units, adding another three feet to those washrooms.
Exhibit C from Decision Notice for LU 25-036927 MLDS showing new lot configuration
The new homes, nearing completion, will offer residents just under 1,000 square feet of living space in almost identical floor plans. People can enter the new detached houses from a shared pathway along the property’s southern edge, and sliding glass doors at the north of the new structures lead to a back patio space. The “U” shaped kitchens feature a breakfast bar facing the center of the home and a dining area off to its side. The MHLD created four lots with an easement for utility lines and the walkway. Power for all homes comes in off the overhead lines to the front house, where electricians placed the power meters. The new structures have their utilities run underground. Demolition crews remove a semi-attached garage on the home’s southeast corner to allow adequate access to the back units.
Left rendering show 1000 NE 70th Ave and 996 NE 70th Ave design. Right is 992 NE 70th Ave. Renderings courtesy of Rees Bettinger Properties
The developer, Rees Bettinger, created a cottage cluster arranged development on NE Holladay Street that wrapped up construction in 2024, and has another recently completed project underway that added four townhouses on the same street. He often works to preserve and improve existing homes while adding more residential inventory to the area. This approach to housing infill has the added benefit of retaining material investments in a structure and maintaining some of the existing streetscape’s age and scale. However, the NE 70th Avenue property is between several new homes built in the last two decades, so matching the adjacent structures is less of a concern.
The homes at this property should go on sale sometime this year after crews complete the interior work and painters cover the primed siding.
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On August 14th, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will begin repairing and repaving SE Washington Street from SE 82nd Avenue to SE 92nd Avenue. The week-and-a-half-long project will disrupt traffic as heavy equipment grinds down old asphalt and spreads a new layer of aggregate bound with bitumen. However, crews will maintain one lane of eastward travel on the one-way street for motorists and transit access. Sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians during construction. Signal installation specialists are currently working on SE 82nd Avenue and SE Washington Street, installing a left-turn light for southbound motorists turning east.
Graphic courtesy PBOT
PBOT expects active work hours to run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during business days, and crews may need to work during the weekend. Contractors plan to complete one travel lane before moving to the adjacent side of the street so people can always travel through the area, but some local access may become blocked as crews work. Flaggers and barricades will allow TriMet buses to move through travel lanes under construction. However, riders should check for any temporary stop closures or delays impacting the 15 bus line.
SE Washington St looking west at SE 82nd Ave
This work supports the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project underway to improve pedestrian and multimodal travel. Work on this project has already replaced gravel streets on segments of SE Clinton Street with new sidewalks and pavement. Road crews are continuing improvements to sidewalks along SE 85th Avenue from SE Division Street to SE Powell Boulevard, creating a calm and continuous pedestrian pathway parallel to SE 82nd Avenue. After PBOT repaves SE Washington Street during this phase of work, crews will permanently remove curbside parking on the south side of the street east of SE 80th Avenue and begin installing protected bike lanes against the curb up to SE 92nd Avenue, with a bus and right-turn-only lane next to it. Striping plans show TriMet bus drivers will have a consistent bus lane from SE 80th Avenue past SE 90th Avenue, with motorists having right-turn-only access to that bus lane at intersections. The SE 86th Avenue intersection will use a shared bus, bicycle, and right-turn lane due to the narrow street created by extended curbs installed in 2023.
Recently enhanced crossings of SE Washington St at SE 84th Ave
PBOT recently enhanced the crossings of SE Washington Street at SE 84th Avenue for north-south traveling pedestrians. New corners offer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps and curb extensions on the north side, shortening the crossing distance. After repaving, high-visibility crosswalks on the east and west edges of the intersection will indicate to drivers they need to yield for pedestrians at this enhanced crossing.
Signal crews with Interlaken installing a left-turn light for southbound motorists turning east
Signs placed along SE Washington Street prohibit curbside parking on both sides of the street from SE 82nd Avenue to just east of SE 92nd Avenue. Drivers should anticipate some delays when traveling through the worksite, and people should follow crew instructions to remain safe on the street. Drivers may want to use an alternate route for the next seven business days. NE Glisan Street is a viable alternative for those trying to drive to the Gateway district or connect to Interstate-205.
Update August 18th, 2025: PBOT road crews began grinding of the top layer of old asphalt in the southernmost lane of SE Washington Street from SE 82nd to 92nd Avenues.
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