Work is starting on Habitat for Humanity’s largest affordable housing community in Portland, which will be built in the Hillsdale neighborhood. Gooseberry Trails will include 52 homes built on 5 acres purchased at a steep discount from the Greater Portland Bible Church in Southwest Portland.
When completed, the project will house over 185 people. It will be built on the church’s lower parking lot and some adjacent land, and will include a play area and retain most of a natural area that buffers the property from a nearby busy street.
“Projects like this are vital because incomes aren’t keeping up with rents,” said Steve Messinetti, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland Region, a nonprofit organization which offers affordable homeownership opportunities to qualifying lower-income households.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled at the property on Wednesday, July 17. Expected to appear are Oregon U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Portland Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang and Oregon Housing and Community Services Homeownership Director Keeble Giscombe.
The project is currently estimated at $23 million, including the removal of the lower parking lot, infrastructure upgrades, a new street, sidewalks and a bike path, and the construction of multiple residential buildings ranging from ADA-compliant single-level houses to two- and three-story multi-family condominiums.
Habitat has already received partial financing from Oregon Housing and Community Services, Metro’s affordable housing bond, the city of Portland, federal America Rescue Plan Act funds secured by Oregon U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas and state Sen. Rob Wagner, the Meyer Memorial Trust and individual donors. A more public fundraising drive will kick off when construction begins in earnest later this year.
According to Messinetti, Habitat has had a relationship with the church for about a decade. Seven years ago, the church sold the organization an unused house on the property that was replaced with seven affordable townhomes. Three years ago, the church approached Habitat about its unused lower parking lot, culminating in the sale for around half the property’s actual value, Messinetti said.
“It’s rare to find more than an acre in Portland for residential development,” said Messinetti, noting the location is within easy walking distance to schools, parks, shopping and public transit.
Habitat Construction Manager Leigh Armstrong presented an update on the project at the July 9 meeting of the Multnomah Neighborhood Association. She said around 47 trees in the natural area would need to be removed but promised the organization would plant more than that as replacements.
“We normally oppose trees being cut down, but we support affordable housing,” said MNA President Moses Ross.
Habitat’s second-largest regional development consists of 45 homes in Southeast Portland. The organization currently has approximately 100 homes in various stages of development in the region, and will begin work on its first project in Lake Oswego later this year, Messinetti said. Qualifying households must volunteer 200 hours to the organization and be able to afford a 30-year mortgage that will cost no more than 30% of their income.
“We had 1,000 applicants for one of our most recent projects with 20 homes. It’s estimated that 20% of the households in the region are paying 50% or more of their income for housing, which doesn’t leave enough money for other necessities,” Messinetti said.
According to its website, “At Habitat for Humanity Portland Region, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to have a stable and healthy place to call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Founded in 1981, we are invested in creating a region where everyone has the opportunity to build a better life. Learn more at habitatportlandregion.org.”
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