Portland Selects Old Town Building As Next Low-Income Project

PORTLAND, OR – The city says that it has purchased a building in Old Town with Housing Bond money for its next project. The Westwind Apartments will be town down and replaced.

The current building at Northwest 6th Avenue and Flanders Street currently is home to 70 single-room-occupancy apartments. The city says that they will be replaced by a combination of new housing with services for the formerly homeless people who will live there.

The Housing Bond, which was passed in 2016 and promised 1,300 units of affordable housing by 2023, is providing funding for the project – the fifth started under the program. The Westwind will bring the total to 630 units so far. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts.

It also helps fund a joint commitment between the city and Multnomah County to provide 2,000 units of supportive housing by 2028.

"We're grateful to have this opportunity to buy it and replace the housing with safe, high-quality, long-lasting homes with support services," said Portland Housing Bureau director Shannon Callahan.

Mayor Wheeler says that "funding these kind of housing solutions for our most vulnerable neighbors is extremely important."

Multnomah County is committing $4 million to the project.

"The solution to chronic homelessness is supportive housing, and in places where people can reconnect with their community," said Multnomah County Commissioner Lori Stegmann. "I'm thrilled the County’s contribution is making that possible for some of our most vulnerable neighbors."

Previously, bond money has been used:

• to purchase for $3,7 million two lots at SE 30th and Powell that will be home for between 200 and 300 people;
• to purchase a 19,000 square-foot lot at 5827 NE Prescott that will house 50 people;
• to buy the 263-unit Ellington Apartments at NE 66th Avenue for $47 million; and
• to spend $14.3 million for a 51-apartment building at 105th and Burnside.

Photo of the Westwind Apartmnets via City of Portland.