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Three buildings include 275 limited-income apartments and a resilience hub
EVENT DETAILS: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9, corner of SE C St. and SE Meek St., Milwaukie
MILWAUKIE, Ore. – The master-planned redevelopment of WWII-era public housing in Milwaukie's Ardenwald neighborhood will kick off with a celebration on Wednesday. Construction starts with three new buildings that will yield 275 affordable homes where just 54 stood before.
Known as Hillside Park, the new community will also provide residents with a resilience hub, which will provide a back-up power source and offer basic resources such as food, water and medical supplies during power outages and natural disasters.
The three buildings are funded in part with $41.7 million from the voter-approved Metro affordable housing bond leveraged by Clackamas County. The Housing Authority of Clackamas County and Related Northwest have partnered on the development and together will own and operate the complex.
"The houses built in 1942 at Hillside Park were aging," said Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith. "The Board saw an opportunity to replace these units and increase much needed affordable housing stock. This project allows us to both expand what we had and build safe affordable housing for generations to come."
"We're experiencing a housing crisis that affects everyone in our region," Metro Councilor Christine Lewis said. "That's why developments like Hillside Park are key. With deeply affordable homes for our most vulnerable neighbors – as well as homes for people earning modest incomes in industries like retail and service – this community will serve a broad range of Oregonians who would otherwise be priced out."
The new buildings will offer studio to three-bedroom homes for households earning less than 30% to 60% of the area median income. Twenty-one apartments will be permanently supportive homes that come with case management and wraparound services for households leaving homelessness, and 140 apartments will come with project-based vouchers, which provide rental assistance to low-income households.
Unite Oregon, and Impact Northwest will provide resident with supportive housing services, and Community Vision will assist residents with physical disabilities. Outdoor areas will include play spaces, garden beds, a community plaza and drought-resistant landscaping.
After construction begins on the first three buildings, at least two more buildings will break ground resulting in about 500 new affordable homes at Hillside Park.
Event speakers will include:
- Rep. Mark Gamba
- Metro Councilor Christine Lewis
- Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith
- Milwaukie Mayor Lisa Batey
- HUD Oregon Field Office Director Bryan Guiney
- OHCS Director of Affordable Rental Housing Natasha Detweiler-Daby
Event photos will be available upon request following the groundbreaking.