Housing We’ve Developed
Creating Affordable Homes for Residents in Need
Building low-income housing that is both affordable and welcoming is an art and a science. It’s a journey filled with public meetings, lengthy negotiations, and complex financial transactions. REACH has a long and successful history of developing affordable homes for some of Portland’s neediest residents. View a complete list of properties REACH has developed (pdf).
New Multi-Family Construction – Built by REACH
5 properties, 425 units
(Station Place Tower, Ritzdorf Court Apartments, 12th Avenue Terrace, Powell Blvd Apartments, Prescott Place)
Partnering with some of Portland’s leading architects and general contractors, REACH builds innovative multi-family projects that reflect the neighborhood’s character and address the needs of the targeted population. Financing is provided through a combination of hard and soft debt from private and public sources, Low-income Housing Tax Credits, and grant funding.
The Ritzdorf
Named for Marsha Ritzdorf (1946–1998), a community activist and urban planning professor, the Ritzdorf Court Apartments is a 90-unit building for formerly homeless people. Good design was essential for community acceptance. The Ritzdorf was completed in 2000 as part of the City’s Shelter Reconfiguration Plan. Units were fully rented in less than three months. The Ritzdorf was developed with grants and loans from the State of Oregon, Portland Development Commission and the City of Portland.
Multi-Family Acquisitions – Built by Others
13 properties, 592 units
(Westshore, McCuller Crossing, Albina Corner, Dresden, Grand Oaks, Wilshire, Beacon Manor, Laurelhurst, Rose, Rex Arms, Marion Street, Taft Hotel, Taylor Street)
An important strategy for maintaining affordable housing stock is to preserve existing low-income buildings that might otherwise become market rate housing. REACH is committed to identifying and purchasing properties to extend their affordability period well into the future. Acquisitions usually involve a renovation of the building, with the scope being determined by existing physical condition.
The Westshore Apartments
The Westshore Apartments, at 222 SW Pine, was purchased by REACH in 2007. The property has 113 studio and 1-bedroom units, and is managed by third party agent Bowen Property Management. The Westshore was developed as a low income housing tax credit property in 1996. REACH will provide new resident services programs in the building. Financing for the acquisition was provided by the City of Portland.
Homeownership
4 properties, 26 units
(33rd and Powell, City Life, and 2 single family residence)
Rental housing is the most practical option for many low income households. The next step for many is to become first time home-buyers. REACH has developed 26 home-ownership units targeted at households making less than the median family income. View our most recent home ownership project on 33rd and Powell
City Life
City Life was an innovative affordable development for first-time homebuyers in the Brooklyn neighborhood. City Life was built in 1995 as an 18-unit, medium-density, mixed-income in-fill project. It was the first in-fill project of its kind to hold a design competition sponsored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and hold a show of homes sponsored by the Homebuilders Association. City Life’s successful collaborations earned awards including the Governor’s Livability Award; from the Portland Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association and the National Partners in Homeownership.
Scattered Site Rentals
62 properties, 121 units
Our historic beginnings lie with the scattered site properties primarily in inner southeast Portland. The majority of these homes were built in the early 20th century and renovated in the 1980’s and 1990’s by REACH. We have also constructed a handful of new homes on infill lots.
Before and After of 1925 SE Alder
The Before and After photos of 1925 SE Alder in the Buckman neighborhood are example of what inspired residents concerned about housing conditions and neighborhood livability to establish REACH. The REACH staff and board of Portland’s first community development corporation started raising money to buy and renovate vacant properties in disrepair. The properties became the beginning of REACH’s permanently affordable homes for working families with low incomes. This five-unit Victorian property was purchased by REACH in 1984 and underwent major renovations.
Go to a complete list of properties for rent.
