Category: New Residence

Construction, New Residence

Nine Homes Join Existing House on SE 90th Pl

Work is underway on a housing development at 3128 SE 90th Place, where a local builder will create nine new homes behind the existing 1927-era house. It features four duplex structures and one detached home, accessed from a long private roadway along the northern edge of the lot. Each of the around 1,700-square-foot homes will stand three stories tall to allow space for attached garages and four bedrooms. Developer Ken Yu updated this project from an apartment concept to better match the street’s existing design context and balance housing with tree canopy.

Yu, a longtime developer of commercial and residential projects focused in East Portland, explained he looks for projects that integrate with the existing neighborhood while making space for new members of the community. He also said he likes to balance buildings and nature. “I’m a Chinese-American, and I grew up with the idea of the yin and yang balance,” explained Yu. “I don’t like too much building or too much landscaping. I think we need to strike the balance between the two. When you walk into a neighborhood with tall buildings and concrete, all that without any green space or natural landscape, it doesn’t feel right.” His personal discomfort in overbuilt spaces encourages his use of planted natural landscape while preserving existing trees. “Those big trees, we really love them,” remarked Yu. “That’s why we went out of our way to try to retain them [at this site].” The new development will provide a dedicated communal recreation area in the southeast corner of the property, with play equipment surrounded by greenery.

Site map showing layout of residential properties, including an existing house, new driveway, and designated outdoor areas, with labeled units and landscaping details.
3128 SE 90th SE Pl site map, courtesy Ken Yu

When Yu first looked at this project, he imagined the site could hold three apartment buildings containing six units each for a total of 18 units. “We actually started the permit processing and submitted plans for permits,” recalled Yu. However, his team reevaluated the scale of that initial project, feeling it would not fit in with the existing housing in the area. So they decided to take a different approach focused on homeownership instead of rentals. “We had to cancel that permit and go with the four duplexes and one single detached home because we really think that this will work a lot better with the area, match the neighborhood, and also we want it to be more family-oriented,” said Yu.

The new three-level houses will have two and a half bathrooms. In addition to vehicle storage, the ground floor supports a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom at the back of the house. Yu explained this is a nice feature for multi-generation families or for people with mobility considerations. “If the family has older people that don’t want to go up the stairs, they can live in the ground floor bedrooms. making it more accessible for them.” The second floor supports a kitchen and living room along with a powder room/half-bathroom. The top level has three bedrooms and one shared bathroom.

Close-up of a brick-patterned pedestrian walkway with yellow curbs, situated alongside a busy road with vehicles in the background.
Example of stamped concrete finish on an 82nd Ave raised median

The rescaled project took longer than expected to obtain approved building permits due to a required land use review. City code 33.120.206 says if the site is more than 160 feet deep, new dwelling units are prohibited unless the site has at least 90 feet of frontage on a street or meets certain exceptions. Yu said this 250-foot-deep site was only a few feet short of the frontage requirement, prompting a review. “They said the land use review takes six months, but it actually took a year, over a year,” recalled Yu. He said the permitting process went well with only one notable change to the proposed plans. The city requested that the shared private access road use a stamped concrete finish. That process utilizes rubber pads with a design pressed into the drying concrete to create patterns that mimic stone or brickwork. Several newly created raised medians on 82nd Avenue used this process to create a red brick appearance, while still keeping installation costs lower than using bricks.

City standards required the development to create curbs and sidewalks in front of the property as the street did not already have them. Yu was required to remove the existing driveway used by the original home to create the new curb cut leading to the private lane. Many developers install the sidewalk at the end of the project to prevent damage by construction vehicles and allow easy access as they dig up the property for utility lines. Yu likes to install the frontage improvements early on in the process when possible. “We try to do those first because we try to improve the scenery for the neighbors, shortening the disturbance as much as possible. We think that this will benefit our neighbors.” Pedestrians walking in the area can now use the less than 100 feet of new sidewalk. It will likely take over a decade for this infrastructure to connect to other sidewalks on this street, but it sets a framework for the future streetscape planned for the neighborhood. That could come from other infill projects like this one or public investment similar to the 2025 work done on SE Clinton Street.

A sidewalk under construction in front of a house, with traffic cones and barriers indicating a work zone.
New sidewalk, planting strip, and curb along 3128 SE 90th Pl frontage

The developer expects these homes will appeal to a range of families, as they will use sturdy materials like water-resistant luxury vinyl plank flooring and granite countertops. “I think it’s a great location, conveniently close to a shopping center and the light rail. Our vision is that these would be a great home for working families and also new immigrants that rely on public transportation or bicycle rather than having to drive a long way to get to a shopping area,” explained Yu. “This is within walking distance to Eastport Plaza and all the Asian shopping centers. So it’s a really convenient location.”

Work is underway now but tucked behind the newly updated street frontage and the existing house. Ken Yu hopes the months of construction work will not be overly disruptive to the neighborhood and that people will appreciate the project’s adjusted scale. When completed, the homes will sell under a condominium model, similar to other developments in the area that share a private access roadway.

Jacob Loeb Avatar

Article and Photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Catalyst Construction & Kitchen Remodeling, a top-rated general contractor specializing in kitchen, bathroom, basement, and garage remodeling, as well as ADU construction and home additions. We thank them for their support.

Construction, Demolition, New Residence

Fire-Damaged SE 87th Site Cleared for 10 Townhouse Development

Crews recently cleared an overgrown parcel where a fire-damaged house at 2826 SE 87th Avenue had caused years of concern for neighbors who witnessed repeated illegal dumping on the property. The 95-by-180-foot lot is slated to support 10 new townhomes, offering future residents just under 1,000 square feet of living space across two floors. This development abuts the back of the three-story Jade apartments, nearing completion at 2905 SE 89th Avenue.

Aerial map of a residential area showing streets, houses, and a construction site outlined in red and a nearby green space highlighted in blue.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustration showing the The Jade apartments in red, right of 2826 SE 87th Ave

This area is zoned Residential Multi-Dwelling 1 (RM1), allowing low-scale multi-dwelling construction, generally two or three stories tall, with a 1:1 Floor Area Ratio (FAR). That provision would allow a single-story building to cover the entire property or two floors to occupy 50% of the land. Affordable housing can trigger a density bonus increasing FAR to 2:1. The zone also has a Minimum Density requirement for new housing of 1 unit per 2,500 square feet of site area. For this site, it is around a 6-unit minimum, but that can be adjusted based on site conditions.

The recent site activity cleared several mature trees and the remaining debris from the lot, which had sat vacant for years. A 2017 fire damaged the house owned by the Baker family for decades. The property was later sold, but suffered a catastrophic fire in 2021, which firefighters allowed to burn due to unsafe conditions inside the residence. In 2023, the city began foreclosure proceedings on nine distressed properties, including the one on SE 87th Avenue. Later, it failed to find a buyer at a foreclosure auction in January 2025 after a previous failed attempt in late 2024. According to Multnomah County records, Community Revitalization LLC acquired the property in March 2025 and sold it to its current owner a year ago for $265,000.

A view of a collapsed and burned-down building surrounded by overgrown grass and trees.
Site condition on September 12, 2022

The redevelopment work will provide ten new homes and replace a longstanding problem property. The units will not have attached garages. However, site development permits indicate it will offer some on-site parking for cars and bicycles, along with an outdoor common space and a shared trash enclosure. Building permits are still Under Review and could take several months before contractors can begin work. The recent clearing of the property should help alleviate area residents’ concerns about dumping, now that the site is visible from all angles, including from the back of the property, where a 40-unit complex will soon start welcoming new residents, providing additional eyes on 2826 SE 87th Avenue.

Jacob Loeb Avatar

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Construction, Demolition, New Residence

Four-story Affordable Housing Near SE 89th and Powell Blvd

Construction fencing surrounds a 1962-era single-story home at 3326 SE 89th Avenue ahead of demolition that makes way for a new 31-unit affordable housing project called Alyssa Daye Gardens. The 32,500-square-foot, four-story wood-framed structure will offer affordable housing with ground-floor common spaces and support services. The project is led by the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon, working under the name The Peer Company, which operates its Portland Recovery Campus next door to the site at 8935 SE Powell Boulevard.

Signage for The Peer Company displaying the logo and tagline 'Experts by Experience,' with a building and parking lot in the background.
The Peer Company’, which operates its’s Portland Recovery Campus at 8935 SE Powell Blvd

The project originally intended to offer 38 housing units, but further development refinements reduced that number. The main floor includes a lobby, community room, offices, private courtyard, and four of the 31 homes. The project will improve pedestrian infrastructure along SE 89th by connecting two sidewalk segments split by the soon-to-be redeveloped property. Infill housing development from 2001 created a 90-foot-long disconnected sidewalk to the north of the site, which can now connect to the existing sidewalk that connects to SE Powell Boulevard.

Blueprint for a proposed building at 3326 SE 89th Ave, Portland, showing a 4-story structure with a ground floor featuring 4 units and communal spaces. Notes on zoning RM1/CE and absence of onsite parking.
Posted site plan on the property

The Peer Company trains and coordinates people with lived experience of addiction and mental health issues to assist others in their recovery process. The Alyssa Daye Gardens will provide permanent supportive housing units for previously homeless families affected by mental health or substance abuse disorders. The regulated affordable housing is for people earning at or below 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 20 one-bedroom units and 11 two-bedroom apartments. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) calculates that a single person’s 2026 30% AMI in Portland is $26,950 per year.

Aerial view of a modern building complex featuring a multi-story structure combined with a single-story section, surrounded by parking spaces and greenery.
Alyssa Daye Gardens rendering from the Oct 3, 2025, OHCS meeting packet – Holst Architecture 2024

This project includes rooftop solar power and received support from the Oregon Multifamily Energy Program (OR-MEP), which supports energy-efficient design of new and existing affordable multifamily rental properties. The Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)—Oregon’s agency that provides financial and program support to create and preserve affordable housing—is also providing funds for this development, which has an estimated cost of $666,748 per unit. The project will remain affordable for at least 30 years as part of its public funding request.

The Alyssa Daye Gardens is designed for chronically homeless families with children, where at least one of the household residents has a mental health or substance abuse disorder. Project documents explain that designers used wood-look finishes, warmer colors, and large windows to improve daylight and views as part of the building’s trauma-informed design. It also features accessibility considerations for those with mobility challenges. A resident services team works one-on-one with resident families to establish personalized goals while offering resources and skill-building support for successful residency and long-term housing security. Additional resources in the adjacent Peer Company’s Recovery Campus offer peer support, community-based recovery groups, employment connections, and other program offerings.

A detailed architectural site plan showing an existing property line, building layout, and various marked features including parking spaces, utilities, and boundaries.
Alyssa Daye Gardens demolition plan Appeal 35120 – Holst Architecture

The demolition permit for the existing 762-square-foot structure is still under review, but it has passed its 35-day hold period. When crews remove that building, they will fill the basement and prepare the site for the on-slab construction. People can anticipate increased construction activity in the area and eventually a more connected pedestrian space. The Peer Company’s campus offers on-site parking with several stalls adjacent to the new housing development.

Jacob Loeb Avatar

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Catalyst Construction & Kitchen Remodeling, a top-rated general contractor specializing in kitchen, bathroom, basement, and garage remodeling, as well as ADU construction and home additions. We thank them for their support.

Construction, New Residence

Cottage Cluster at SE 75th and Pine

G&G Development Group, working under the name Timberline Development, recently received partial approval for zoning code compliance adjustments requested for its cottage cluster project at 305 SE 75th Avenue. The developer will add a pair of detached two-level homes behind the existing 1950-era single-story house. Demolition crews will raze a detached garage connected to the original house by a breezeway to make room for one of the two new units facing SE Pine Street.

Demolition crews will raze 305 SE 75th Ave’s garage facing SE Pine St to make room for a new home

The current owner bought the modest 600-square-foot house surrounded by mature greenery in May with plans to create more housing. The corner lot is slightly smaller than the required size for this type of infill housing, prompting the design team to seek some adjustments to build the additional units. On June 4th, Portland Permitting & Development approved the developer’s request to reduce the minimum lot size for a cottage cluster from 5,000 square feet to 4,994 square feet, but denied the request to reduce the minimum width of an outdoor common area from 15 feet to 13.5 feet.

Site plan from Land Use Decision LU 26-035176 AD, the developer is working on updates

The project planner allowed for a shared green space between the original home and the adjacent new structure. However, it was 1.5 feet short on one side but exceeded the minimum total area. The outdoor common area is part of the cottage-cluster style of middle housing land division (MHLD), which allows yard space to be shared among the homes, increasing buildable land. A Timberline Development representative explained that this denial will not change their plans to add two homes on the site, but they will need to adjust the layout. “We’re working through minor adjustments to the site plan with our designer to meet the common area standard.”

The new two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom homes’ front doors will each open directly onto SE Pine Street’s sidewalk. This corner configuration has regularly allowed more homes on a single residential lot without the need for a shared walkway, even before MHLD code updates. The extra street frontage on two sides provides added curbside parking space for future residents. The project is currently in its design and permitting phase, with construction expected to begin after permit approval.

Jacob Loeb Avatar

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Check out East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.

Construction, Demolition, New Residence

Fire Damaged Home on SE 87th Razed for New Development

Deconstruction crews will remove the burned remnants of a dilapidated 1926-era home at 3015 SE 87th Avenue to make way for a housing development. The former single-story structure suffered multiple fires over several years, rendering the property uninhabitable. Dez Development and partners purchased the 182-foot-deep property in December 2025 and will work with designers to build multiple single-family homes.

Abandoned house with significant damage, including a partially collapsed roof and debris. Overgrown shrubs surround the property, and a speed limit sign is visible nearby.
3015 SE 87th Ave November 2024

The building at the site sustained damage from people living there without permission and minor burns from an adjacent fire. However, on July 17th, 2025, a significant fire damaged the property, necessitating its removal for safety reasons. This month, the developer submitted applications to deconstruct the structure, remove the concrete slab, and cap the sewer. The driveway curb-cut will remain for this phase of development. There is a mandatory 35-day demolition delay for this work.

Map showing residential properties with a highlighted area for property number 3015, located between SE 87th Ave and SE Brooklyn St.
3015 SE 87th Ave Portland Maps

While waiting to clear the site, Dez Development owner Slavik Dezhnyuk explained that they are working with their design team to determine the best way to increase housing density on the 8,736-square-foot site while matching the single-family home footprint of the surrounding properties. “We hope to develop this property with several detached cottage homes,” remarked Dezhnyuk. Design and permitting will take months to complete. However, neighbors can anticipate the dilapidated building’s removal as soon as feasible.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Construction, New Residence

Eight Off-82nd Townhomes on NE Holladay

Work is underway on eight attached townhomes on NE Holladay Street with views of NE 82nd Avenue across the Don Pedro restaurant’s parking lot. This housing project dates back to 2022, when Riverside Carpentry purchased 8225 NE Holladay Street and demolished the 100-year-old single-family residence and detached garage. Most of the new two-story units will provide around 904 square feet, with one unit offering 1003 square feet of living space.

Construction site with a fenced area, featuring concrete foundations and construction materials, surrounded by trees and blue sky.
View of project from NE Holladay St

In 2023, the land’s owner transferred the property several times from his Riverside Carpentry business before it was transferred to his Kalen Development company in 2024. In April 2026, crews completed the foundation for the new homes on the 114-by-67-foot parcel. The land is zoned Commercial Mixed Use 2 (CM2), which has a minimum density requirement. Title 33 of Portland’s Planning and Zoning code states the Minimum Density for CM2 is 1 unit per 1,450 square feet, requiring at least 5 units here. The added homes exceed the required density but do not come close to the maximum allowed for this property within the 82nd Avenue commercial corridor.

A construction site featuring a concrete foundation with walls partially built, surrounded by a fenced area and a residential house in the background.
Concrete foundation showing doorway indents and drainage pipe around the footing.

The developer will need to close an existing driveway approach that once led to the now-demolished detached garage. Future residents of the one sidewalk-adjacent townhome will have a door opening onto NE Holladay Street, and the seven back units will share a paved path on the western edge of the property that leads to their front doors. Work has taken years to break ground after the initial removal of the old house, but crews should increase work activity at the site in the coming months. When completed, the site will have walkable access to the area’s highest ridership bus line and a MAX light rail station.

  • 8223 NE Holladay Street
  • 8225 NE Holladay Street
  • 8227 NE Holladay Street
  • 8229 NE Holladay Street
  • 8231 NE Holladay Street
  • 8233 NE Holladay Street
  • 8235 NE Holladay Street
  • 8237 NE Holladay Street
Jacob Loeb Avatar

Article and photo by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Community, New Residence

Harrison Community Village Shelter Preview April 24

On Friday, April 24th, Multnomah County’s Homeless Service Department (HSD) and site operator Do Good Multnomah invite the public to preview Harrison Community Village Shelter from 2 to 4 p.m. The newly completed sober-shelter site at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue will soon host 38 shed-style sleeping quarters for adult residents.

Event flyer for the Harrison Community Village Sneak Peek event on April 24, detailing location, time, and QR code for RSVP.
April 24th Harrison Community Village Shelter “Sneak Peak” invite courtesy Multnomah County

Multnomah County purchased the former recreational vehicle dealership at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue in December 2022 for $2 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 2025 and is currently operating at full capacity. The Joint Office of Homeless Services—now renamed the Homeless Services Department—has held several community meetings, including one in February where the nonprofit Do Good Multnomah staff elaborated on the site’s sober shelter model that aims for people to stay onsite from 90 days to three months as they work towards stable housing in a recovery supportive environment. 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 community desires for the county-owned site, which is near two Portland Public Schools. Do Good Multnomah will conduct background checks on potential residents looking for past criminal history, and those with a record of abuse of vulnerable populations are directed to another, more appropriate shelter or resource. The site is also a weapons-free zone.

A row of metal temporary housing units with windows and air conditioning units, set along a pathway on a sunny day.
Interior view of a small, modern room featuring a black mattress on a wooden platform, a window showing an outdoor view, and an air conditioning unit mounted on the wall.
Inside LIT Homes 8 by 10.5-foot sleeping pod

HSD will contract with the operator to staff the alternative shelter site at all hours of the day. The residents will receive a private sleeping pod made by Portland-based LIT Homes, each offering an 8 by 10.5-foot room with heating and cooling. Six converted shipping container units will provide office space for staff, participant services, hygiene facilities, kitchenette amenities, and laundry facilities. Residents and their pets will have on-site access to a modest green space. The site will receive upgraded fencing with privacy inserts on all street sides and a wood fence between the adjacent residential property to the east. The site intends to offer more than short-term shelter. People in the program will have access to dedicated housing case management and abstinence-based recovery services to help with long-term substance use recovery and housing stability.

A modern kitchen space featuring two refrigerators, one silver and one black, along with a shelf equipped with several microwave ovens and a countertop in the background.
Kitchenette with refrigerators, microwaves, and a sink
A freshly installed patch of artificial grass bordered by wooden framing, surrounded by a black privacy fence on a sunny day.
Pet relief area for residents with dogs

People staying at Harrison Community Village will have access to a kitchenette with refrigerators, microwaves, and a sink, along with dining space. The site offers a pet relief area for residents with dogs, and residents are expected to keep their animals on leash in public spaces. However, not every person can have a pet. The site operator tries to limit the shelter to a total of five dogs and five cats. People can seek outdoor leisure away from the elements in a covered carport-style outdoor seating area. There are laundry facilities, shower rooms, and bathrooms in separate structures. All shared amenities are accessible to people with special mobility requirements, and select units are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)- compliant, with ramps and platforms, providing no-step entry.

Close-up view of overlapping metallic panels with a black wire securing them.
Enhanced privacy slats installed in the fence

The site is completely fenced, with a new chainlink barrier on three sides of the property using enhanced privacy slats installed in the fence. Unlike some other installations, these plastic inserts have wings on the side that better fill the gaps where the wire links connect, providing significant visual obstruction. Site designers also planted greenery along the SE Mill Street frontage to provide additional buffer between the newly updated sidewalk and the shelter space. The eastern edge of the property, abutting a residential lot, was fenced with wood. That neighbor had previously expressed concern because the County’s southern fence only follows the property line, leaving a gap between existing fences. The construction crews received permission from adjoining landowners to work beyond the property line and filled that gap.

A narrow pathway between two fences; on the left, a tall black wrought iron fence alongside a grassy area, and on the right, a wooden fence enclosure with a gate, surrounded by lush vegetation.
Gap between fences beyond the county’s property line filled at neighbor’s request

HSD estimates it will cost $107 per night to house and provide supportive services to each resident. This number includes utilities and staff time. This location is opening at a time when the City of Portland and Multnomah County are looking to reduce shelter space due to budget concerns. The two Montavilla shelters along SE 82nd Avenue are not under threat of closure, but other smaller shelters in the County are concerned about possible closure.

A sidewalk lined with newly planted trees and mulch, viewed along a street with parked cars, under a clear blue sky.
Planting buffer alon SE Mill St

The Harrison Community Village Shelter Preview may be the only opportunity some residents will have to see inside the shelter, thanks to the enhanced privacy fence. It is one of many public outreach efforts by HSD to involve the community, including a Good Neighbor Agreement that was crafted with input from Do Good Multnomah, the 82nd Avenue Business Association, African Youth & Community Organization, APANO, and the Montavilla Neighborhood Association. People wishing to attend the April 24th event should complete an online RSVP form.

View of several modular housing units lined up in a row, with clear blue skies overhead.
Jacob Loeb Avatar

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Check out East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.

Business Relocating, Construction, New Residence

Affordable Housing Rising Above Methodist Church

Recently, the members of Montavilla United Methodist Church voted to demolish all their buildings at 232 SE 80th Avenue to create three stories of affordable housing above a new ground-level worship space that will also share resources with support organization Rahab’s Sisters. Reverend Heather Riggs explained that this site transformation will embrace the faith-based group’s efforts to provide resources it sees needed in the community while reducing its operational burden of maintaining an aging building. The project is in pre-development with a target completion date of 2030. Until the city approves permits, parishioners and users of the midcentury building will continue to gather there.

Riggs said they plan to maximize housing options on the site while respecting the neighborhood’s scale and preserving on-site parking for the gathering space. The 0.88-acre property occupies nearly a full block and is shared with only one single-family residence. The Residential Multi-Dwelling 2 zoning of the site allows up to four stories and has a three-to-one Floor Area Ratio through bonus provisions for affordable housing.

Interior of a church decorated for Christmas, featuring a large cross, Christmas trees, and festive lights.
Montavilla United Methodist Church December 2024

Riggs explained they are in a pre-development phase and working to formalize a relationship with a prospective developer who will take ownership of the property and rent back the ground floor to the congregation at a discounted rate. The agreement will target an Area Median Income (AMI) restriction for future residents of 30 to 60 percent for the anticipated 72 units of regulated affordable housing. The Methodist Church wants the property to remain affordable for at least 60 years. “We would like to be in the 30 [AMI] range because that’s what’s affordable for our local baristas and for our local restaurant workers,” said Riggs. “This is not free housing. This is housing for people who work, who cannot afford to live in the city where they work.”

The final configuration of units and income targets depends on the funding available at the time of construction. Riggs noted that affordable housing projects require specialized skill sets to fund and manage. That is why the congregation and regional Methodist leadership are planning to transfer the land to another group rather than keeping it under church control. “Honestly, one of our priorities has been to get out of the business of building management so that we can focus on ministry,” said Riggs. The older property, built between the 1940s and 1950s, takes considerable funds to maintain. The building also sits empty more often than it is occupied, attracting unwanted attention and vandalism. Church leadership feels that having people living above the worship space will make the property more active and safer for the surrounding community.

Exterior view of a brick church with a tall, green steeple, featuring a welcoming sign detailing community values of peace, prayer, and learning, surrounded by trees and grass.

Demolishing the building could seem like a loss of history, but Riggs explained it is part of the site’s tradition to adapt to changing needs. Initially, a large wooden structure painted white served as a place of worship at this site. That was torn down to make way for the larger facility that accommodated a growing congregation in the 1950s. Now the faith community sees the mission changing again. The city needs housing, and the younger members of the church started the conversation around adapting the site’s use to address both faith and service to Portland’s needs.

A committee of knowledgeable members will take on preservation work, identifying the precious items that need to become part of the new facility. “We have plans to incorporate a lot of things into the new building. We want to incorporate some of the stained glass into the new building, but we’re thinking of placing it on interior walls, lighting hallways,” said Riggs. “We would like to preserve at least one of the upside-down boat arches in our worship space, and we’d like to preserve the bell, creating a small bell tower.” The “Precious Team” will work right up to demolition, preserving everything that matters to the congregation’s history. “We will be going through that process of honoring the history of those who came before us and celebrating that history,” remarked Riggs. Part of that celebration will be the opening of a time capsule on the front of the building.

Map showing buildings and structures with numbered addresses in a grid layout, highlighting a specific area outlined in blue.
Portland Maps image showing 232 SE 80th Ave

During the demolition and construction phases, church members will share space with the Tabor Heights United Methodist Church, less than a mile away at 6161 SE Stark Street. Before work begins, the design team will hold public meetings to gather community feedback on the project’s design. Riggs wants this site to meet the faith organization’s goals of serving those most in need while still playing a positive role in the wider community. As a community advisory committee member for the nearby Oak Street Village shelter, Riggs feels it is important for working people transitioning back into stable housing to have a place to move into. The church members also know this property is central to the neighborhood and asked the developer to include a garden and green space to keep it an attractive element of Montavilla’s historic downtown.

Reverend Heather Riggs hopes to speak to the Montavilla Neighborhood Association about the project at a future meeting. When the developer is formally secured for the housing, the design phases will begin, and community members can expect to learn more and provide input. Riggs wants people to know these changes will create a safer, more secure site that remains a useful resource for Rahab’s Sisters to build on its over 20 years of community support, and for the church to add to its 100-year history.

Jacob Loeb Avatar

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Check out East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.

Community, Government, New Residence

Advocating for a Jade District Park

In July 2025, Oregon Metro purchased a 1.46-acre property at the intersection of SE 90th Place and SE 89th Avenue for planned Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). For over a decade, community advocates have envisioned the large, sloped property as a neighborhood park and are now seeking support for that project ahead of Metro’s RFP (Request for Proposals) this summer. Residents and interested parties can complete an Online Form to endorse a call for the City to purchase the lot from Metro and to direct Portland Parks and Recreation to create public green space for the expanding community in this area.

A vibrant community park scene featuring people riding bicycles, walking, and playing. In the background, families enjoy a picnic on the grass, while others engage in games. The landscape includes greenery, seating areas, and informational signage.
Park Rendering from the 2018 EPA Greening The Jade project document

Metro’s TOD team plans to introduce new affordable housing at the site with help from partner developers. The early concepts included open neighborhood greenspace, but not at the scale documented in the 2014 Jade District community visioning plan or the 2018 EPA Greening the Jade project. The community outreach recorded in those documents showed a desire and expressed need for green space across all groups in the neighborhood. The Metro-owned property at 2815 SE 90th Place is in the center of a community surrounded by busy city roadways, a State highway, and a freeway. Harrison Park is the closest park to this location, at over half a mile away, and often serves as an extension of the adjoining school’s campus rather than a neighborhood park.

A fenced lot with a grassy area and several structures, including a green shed and nearby houses, under a clear blue sky.
2815 SE 90th Place property with fence

Andrea Pastor, Metro’s Senior Development Project Manager of Housing and TOD, explained in a September 2025 interview 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.”

A construction site featuring two multi-story buildings with yellow exteriors, in various stages of development. In the foreground, a red car is parked beside a fenced area containing construction materials and tools. A caution sign indicates a roadway that is not improved. The sky is cloudy.
The Jade apartments under construction

The Jade District advocacy organizers seeking support for the park say Metro TOD is willing to sell the parcel, but City of Portland support must be secured before Metro releases an RFP to potential developers in August or September 2026. The park space is across from The Jade apartments, which are currently under construction and will offer 15 units with family-sized accommodations, including three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The workforce housing development will also create 14 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom flats. The expanded pool of families on this street would benefit from a new city park with a safe crossing to a play area. The site can also amplify existing green space that is not publicly accessible but protected by 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 extend park space into some of the stormwater detention area land without compromising security.

Map of a park featuring various amenities including an air quality monitoring installation, a terraced amphitheater, a multi-purpose paved pad, a nature play area, and a park loop trail. It also shows locations for public art installations and potential housing.
Image from the 2018 EPA Greening The Jade project document

Park designs and amenities presented in the visioning materials are illustrative only and do not constitute final design options. If the idea receives community support through the Online Form and city officials adopt the property for a new park, future community outreach from park planners will drive the development of the green space. Whether the land serves as a public park or affordable housing, this large, underdeveloped property will become a needed community resource as housing density brings more people into the Jade District.

Jacob Loeb Avatar

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Construction, New Residence

House and Two ADU Condo on NE Multnomah

A novel condo project is nearing completion at 6909 NE Multnomah Street, where developer Neil Heller added two Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) next to a 1,234 square foot 1951-era home. This approach seems similar to other infill housing projects, but its focus on reducing city-paid fees and lessening infrastructure buildout should produce a more affordable product for buyers, according to Heller.

As a resident, living just blocks away from his worksite, making space for more neighbors without upsizing the cost of entry to home ownership in the community is important to Heller. “I live here in the neighborhood, and I take my daily walk or two over to the project. It’s about seven blocks away from where I live,” remarked Heller. He also mentioned his commitment to keeping the original house on the site, which had been the home to Robert and Suzanne Matney, longtime residents who were central to the surrounding community. “They were the original owners, from what I understand. The guy even planted that big cedar tree that’s on the corner. When you see how big it is, you realize that they’ve been there a long time. They raise their kids there, and I guess they were a staple in that part of the neighborhood,” said Heller. “People just loved them, and so when they heard that we weren’t going to tear the house down and we would take good care of it, they were happy about it.”

A blue house with a porch shaded by a large tree, surrounded by a small fence and green grass.
Original 1,234 square foot 1951-era home at 6909 NE Multnomah St with tall cedar tree

The existing home spanned several lots but was massed near the corner, leaving plenty of yard space for the two 800-square-foot detached ADUs. “We removed some sheds and gazebos,” recalled Heller. His Heller Development Company then followed the condo plat process to create a micro three-unit condo he is calling “Cedar Corner Cottages.” Each of the new homes the contractor created has two bedrooms and a full bathroom on the top level. The main floor has a kitchen, a living area, and a half bathroom. Heller explained that people may recognize the construction style from other area homes created by Rees Bettinger Properties. “Rees Bettinger is my general contractor on this, and sort of my development advisor.”

Heller says this is his maiden project in which all the homes on the property are intended for individual sale. “This is the first project where we are not using owner-occupied finance strategies. We have investment partners, and this is the first time we don’t have to live in the construction dust.” He is not new to the housing creation process. He has tested out his work at his own property. “I added a basement apartment and an ADU out back so we turned our single-family lot into three households,” Heller said. Additionally, he spends a considerable amount of his professional life thinking about housing supply and its impact on communities. “I have an urban planning consulting firm, and I work with cities around the country to update their zoning codes. I’m [also] faculty with the Incremental Development Alliance. It’s a national nonprofit. And we teach local people how to invest in real estate and contribute to their communities.”

Front view of a modern two-story blue house with a wooden fence and walkway.
Street facing unit has a zero-step entry with an accessible bathroom but the lack of a sidewalk creates a step at the property’s edge

This condo project is Heller’s way of bringing his philosophy and professional experience close to home. “It’s nice being able to invest into the neighborhood that I live in, bring more affordable, diverse housing options to help people looking for homes,” Heller admits that there is a limit to how much of his style of infill housing is possible in the area, but he is committed to local contributions to the housing market. “I would ideally like to stay in Montavilla and continue to contribute to the vitality here. But I know that’s not always possible because deals do pop up elsewhere.”

These new homes are designed to be naturally affordable, without income restrictions. Heller accomplished this by building the units as ADUs rather than using some of Portland’s modern lot-division tools that do not require a condo Home Owners Association (HOA). “I did consider the middle housing land division. We felt like the ADU was going to be a bit more cost-effective. Right now there’s an SDC (System Development Charges) vacation, but at the time [we started] there was not. To not have to pay those SDCs, $25,000 per unit, that’s a lot of savings. And when you permit ADUs, the [city won’t] require you to improve the right-of-way,” explained Heller. “That would have been cost-prohibitive, either requiring us to build larger homes and sell them for more, or potentially leading to a project that just wouldn’t even pencil.”

Exterior view of a blue two-story house with a covered porch, surrounded by a small garden and fence.
Back unit with large patio and yard space. Each ADU has a 44-square-foot storage room with external door

In the case of this property, NE Multnomah Street is not fully improved, with gravel parking lanes on both sides and no sidewalks. Adding that infrastructure and the rainwater management required when you fully pave a street would have significant financial consequences. “Stormwater could be a $150,000 cost, which these small projects can’t really support,” said Heller. The original home received updates to the kitchen and bathroom, but Heller said it was in great shape, just a little outdated, until crews refreshed it. It also retained its single-car garage for onsite vehicle parking.

This smaller infill project joins others on this block, both by developers and by existing property owners. That scale of housing development pleases Heller, as it aligns with what the Incremental Development Alliance teaches. “We say ‘nobody’s coming to save you.’ If you’ve ever looked at a building and said ‘you know what that could be…’ then you’re probably that person who needs to figure out how to make it become that thing,” said Heller. “The idea here is to embolden and strengthen a whole swarm of local small-scale developers that can invest in their neighborhoods.”

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Check out East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.