Hattie Redmond Apartments

Location: Portland

Cost: $24.4 million

Completion: March 2023

Owner/Developer: Home Forward

Architect: SERA Architects

Interior Designer: SERA Architects

Engineers: Samata Consulting Engineers, MKE & Associates, Equilibrium Engineers, Vega Civil Engineering

General Contractor: Bremik Construction

Submitting Company: SERA Architects

Design Team Subcontractors: Earth Advantage, Glumac, Mayer/Reed, RDH Building Science, Shapiro Didway.

Subcontractors: Not disclosed

In a statement against displacement and inequity, a new housing development has taken root in the heart of Portland’s historically Black Albina neighborhood.

The Hattie Redmond Apartments, a partnership between Home Forward and the Urban League of Portland, provides 60 units of permanent supportive housing tailored specifically for individuals with disabilities transitioning out of homelessness.

But the project represents more than just affordable homes. It’s a reconnection to community for those displaced and a beacon of healing through its pioneering trauma-informed design approach.

From the vibrant murals highlighting BIPOC voices to the integration of community spaces, healing gardens and an innovative on-site smoking shelter, every detail was carefully crafted to inspire dignity and facilitate recovery. Calming natural elements like ample daylighting, biophilic design features and soothing color palettes come together to create an environment conducive to personal growth.

The building’s namesake, Harriet “Hattie” Redmond, was a celebrated local Black activist who championed women’s suffrage and civil rights in the early 1900s. Her legacy lives on through this new community hub that centers on empowering its residents and celebrating cultural identity.

On-site supportive services provided by the Urban League and Home Forward ensure a holistic continuum of care for tenants. From case management and peer support to community-building activities like shared meals and urban gardening, the goal is housing retention and long-term social integration.

“At the Hattie Redmond, we’re providing support beyond just lower rent to help ameliorate our community’s housing crisis,” a project representative noted in the Top Projects nomination form. “Tenants pay only 27 percent of their income towards rent while accessing vital wrap-around services.”

The sustainability highlights don’t stop at the building’s Earth Advantage Platinum certification. Located along the MAX Yellow line with nearby grocery and retail, the transit-oriented development minimizes environmental impact and maximizes connectivity for residents.

Home Forward and the Urban League of Portland were essential to achieving the BIPOC goals of the project. Most of the Hattie Redmond’s development team leadership were BIPOC and women. Throughout the project, the team consulted with both groups to ensure construction decisions aligned with the design intent of creating an equitable and inclusionary space.

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