The Housing Authority of Washington County and Community Development Partners celebrated the start of construction on a new affordable housing building with a virtual groundbreaking video released this week. The building, which will be called Viewfinder, will bring 81 new apartments to the heart of the Tigard Triangle, in the northeast corner of the city.
“As someone with longstanding roots and connections in Tigard, I know just how important these homes will be as a contribution to the safety and stability of people with low income in our community,” said Metro Councilor Craig Dirksen.
The six-story Viewfinder building will consist of 25 one-bedroom apartments and 66 larger units that will be available to families. Ten percent of the Viewfinder’s units will be reserved for veterans. Residents will enjoy both indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces, play areas, laundry facilities on each floor, bicycle storage, and 64 parking spaces. They will also be near two future transit stations currently planned along the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project. That will allow them to easily commute to Downtown Portland, Tigard, and Tualatin.
This is the second project in Washington County funded through Metro’s Affordable Housing Bond to break ground. The first project, the Mary Ann Apartments in Beaverton, broke ground last month. The bond was approved by voters in November 2018 and aims to create 3,900 permanently affordable homes across greater Portland.
“Now, more than ever, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we know how critical a safe and stable home is for families with very low incomes and seniors with disabilities who are at very high risk of homelessness,” said Metro Council President Lynn Peterson. “That’s what the regional affordable housing bond is about, and these kind of investments in our communities’ future are represented here in this project.”