Northeast Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood is now home to an innovative new affordable housing campus. Glisan Landing was brought to life through a partnership between Related Northwest, Catholic Charities and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization. The site hosts two residential buildings with a variety of program and community spaces, assembled around a central courtyard.
Portland Housing Bureau allocated $21 million from Metro’s affordable housing bond toward the project’s $77.8 million in construction costs. Metro’s transit-oriented development program donated the land for the new apartment community, in addition to $1.2 million in grants. The site is adjacent to two high-frequency bus lines and several blocks from the MAX.
Aldea at Glisan Landing has 96 affordable homes, 15 of which are considered “deeply affordable,” reserved for households with income under 30% of the area median income. The remaining 81 are for households with incomes ranging between 41-60%. Sizes range from studio to four-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments.
Learn more about affordability standards in Metro bond funded housing
IRCO provides resident services at Aldea and will also manage a multicultural preschool that is currently under construction adjacent to the complex. Building amenities include a spacious community room with kitchen, children’s reading room with colorful murals and books, teen lounge, fitness room and computer room. The affordable apartment community also features a fiber arts studio where residents can learn sewing and other related skills.
Beacon at Glisan Landing offers permanent supportive housing for 41 households who have either experienced homelessness or at risk of losing their housing. At Beacon, studio apartments are paired with federal Section 8 rent assistance and on-site supportive services through Catholic Charities.
Residents at Beacon have access to an expansive community gathering area and kitchen, the central courtyard and community gardens, and a free food pantry. The building also includes classroom space and a training kitchen for a culinary and barista training program, in addition to a public cafe – both in partnership with local nonprofit, Stone Soup. This workforce program is targeted towards people who are at risk of homelessness and have barriers to employment.
The opening celebration featured a performance from the West African Cultural Arts Institute, followed by remarks from the project’s many partners. IRCO executive director Lee Po Cha described Glisan Landing as “a place that represents hope, stability and opportunity.” The in-depth resident services at Aldea are an example of IRCO’s commitment to creating affordable housing that “goes beyond just a roof over one’s head.”
Metro regional housing director Patricia Rojas shared her experience with homelessness as a young mother. Thinking back to the stress and loneliness of that time, she reflected on what a difference it would have made to live in a place like Glisan Landing. “I always wish that I had a community at that time and had resources,” she said. “When I think about this site, that’s exactly what it’s going to mean to a lot of people.”
Metro’s voter-approved housing bond has already delivered over 2,400 toward its initial goal of 3,900 affordable homes. It is on-track to exceed that goal by about 1,700, to support the creation of 5,600 affordable homes across greater Portland.