Hacienda’s vision will bring 55 new affordable apartments to Lake Oswego
LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.— Clackamas County has granted preliminary funding for Hacienda Community Development Corporation (CDC) to proceed with its proposed affordable housing community in Lake Grove. Hacienda CDC, Oregon's largest Latino-led community development organization, is dedicated to addressing the critical need for affordable housing, particularly for underserved populations. This significant development will be Hacienda CDC's third community in Clackamas County and furthers their commitment to provide affordable housing and holistic programming to communities across the region.
Hacienda CDC's proposal envisions a three-story, elevator-served building on Boones Ferry Road that will provide 55 new affordable rental units and include on-site resident services provided by Hacienda CDC, as well as a host of culturally-specific support and programming for youth and families.
Mackenzie and Access Architecture have united to design the community project that Colas Construction will build. The project site will include open and covered seating, an art-filled plaza, a nature-based playground, and a native plant garden. The community will also feature energy-efficient appliances, 100% electric building systems, rooftop solar panels, passive solar design, and incorporate universal design principles and trauma-informed design, ensuring accessibility, and comfort.
"We are excited to bring much-needed affordable housing options to Lake Oswego and continue our work in Clackamas County. We are honored to have been selected by the County to provide community members with the housing they need and deserve," said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC.
The final community design will be informed by Hacienda’s community engagement process beginning in Fall 2023 and will ensure that the building aligns with the needs and desires of residents and community members. Hacienda is currently seeking community-based organizations and support agencies in the area that would like to be involved in community engagement efforts. Following community engagement, the project will seek approval through the City’s land use development review process.
"Creating housing that is accessible to our full community means creating housing affordable to a wide variety of families through non-profit led development partnerships. The Boones Ferry Road location - with access to high quality schools, premier parks and natural areas, close to employment, transit, and regional access - is exemplary of a high opportunity location befitting the needs of future residents,” stated City of Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck. “We are grateful to the neighbors and community members who served on the developer selection committee and are excited to welcome both Hacienda and our future neighbors into our incredible city.”
The Lake Grove project will provide affordable housing to a diverse population, including families and individuals facing homelessness or imminent displacement who require permanent supportive housing (PSH). Out of the 55 apartments, 20 will be rent-restricted to 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 10 of those units dedicated to PSH through coordination with the Housing Authority of Clackamas County (HACC). Supportive services will be provided by New Narrative. The remaining apartments will be comprised of varying unit sizes and rents accessible to low-income and working-class individuals and families earning 60% AMI or below.
“We are delighted that our affordable housing bond dollars will provide 55 more affordable apartments in Lake Grove,” says Board of County Commissioners Chair Tootie Smith. “I applaud Lake Oswego’s commitment to affordable housing, which allows the local workforce community to live closer to their jobs in high-cost areas. This new project helps Clackamas County meet our goals to address homelessness and ensure a safe community for everyone who lives here.”
While Clackamas County's approval is a significant milestone, the project's final endorsement is pending from Metro. Hacienda CDC remains committed to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to move the development forward and provide much-needed affordable housing options for the Lake Grove community. The project is expected to break ground in Fall of 2024.
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We are building a safe Clackamas County where all people thrive, are celebrated for their diverse identities, and know they belong. Our strategic priorities are to build public trust through good government, grow a vibrant economy, build a strong infrastructure, ensure safe, healthy and secure communities, and honor, utilize, promote and invest in our natural resources.
Lake Oswego, Clackamas County’s largest city, is known for its peaceful neighborhoods, natural beauty, recreational and cultural amenities, highly-rated schools, and sense of community. With a population of approximately 41,000, an extensive parks system, and a full range of retail and commercial services, Lake Oswego is one of the most desirable places to live, work, and play in Oregon. Lake Oswego is proud to be a full-service City with a complete range of municipal departments including police and fire protection, an award-winning library, and a well-maintained parks system. There is a strong sense of community pride as evidenced by the range of City Boards and Commissions, more than 20 neighborhood associations, and a number of civic and cultural organizations. We strive to be a community where any family or individual feels a true sense of belonging. Whether you live in Lake Oswego, work here, or visit, Lake Oswego hopes you see yourself reflected in aspects of our diverse community life.
Hacienda CDC’s latest Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), built in partnership with Community Vision, will offer Christin a supportive, on-site, affordable housing solution for her adult sons with disabilities.
Hacienda’s Small Homes Northwest initiative aims to identify new housing solutions to our state’s affordable housing crisis by building and demonstrating the use of ADU’s as affordable housing and offer a unique housing model in dense residential urban areas. Recognizing the urgent need for such housing options, Hacienda CDC embarked on this project and has once again partnered with Community Vision to make a positive difference in the lives of families like Christin and her sons, KeLani and KeJon in Gresham, Oregon.
Christin and her family experienced numerous challenges due to the lack of stable and affordable housing options for adults with differing abilities. Christin, who became a homeowner by purchasing a land trust home with Proud Ground, looked for supportive housing for her oldest son, but only found long waitlists and high costs that her family could not afford. The chance to have an ADU in her backyard offers her sons the opportunity to achieve independence. Her oldest son will move in first, and when her younger son is ready, the second bedroom will be his. Once they are ready to move out on their own, Christin will be able to rent her home to a future low-income tenant, providing a modest stream of income.
The benefits of an accessory dwelling unit are particularly advantageous for individuals needing to stay close to home. Joe WykowskI, Community Vision’s Strategic Housing Outreach Consultant explains, “ADU’s provide an anchor to neighborhoods and the opportunity to live a more self-determined life for individuals experiencing disabilities.” And though still in the final stages of construction, Christin and her family are already hopeful for the future.
“There is no way I could have done this alone,” says Christin, “my family is so grateful for this new space. My boys can now have the independence they crave while also being close to the support they need. This level of independence would never have been possible without this project.”
Christin finalizes her ownership of her family’s new ADU
Hacienda brought multiple partners together to make Christin’s ADU possible including Community Vision, Hampton Lumber, the Kuni Foundation, and Meyer Memorial Trust. The partnership leveraged additional funding and in-kind donations which paired with Christin’s investment to build the ADU. Designed by Mitch Snyder and built by Roost LLC, the ADU will belong to Christin with the requirement that the home be affordable to tenants earning 60% AMI and below for a minimum of 10 years.
By partnering with Community Vision, Hacienda’s Small Homes Northwest initiative provides housing solutions that allow adults with disabilities and their families a new option.
The construction of the ADU was possible thanks to a generous lumber and financial donation from Portland-Based Hampton Lumber, who were inspired to be part of this solution and contacted Hacienda after learning about Small Homes Northwest last year.
“The affordable housing crisis is affecting urban and rural areas throughout the state,” said Kristin Rasmussen of Hampton Lumber. “We’re proud to be able to grow, harvest, and manufacture sustainable building materials right here in Oregon and to be part of this innovative effort to create more affordable housing opportunities in our communities.”
Community Vision, Hacienda CDC, and Hampton Lumber join Christin and her son in celebrating this milestone
The new ADU, which will be complete this summer, will provide both of Christin’s sons a private and safe living space, fostering a sense of independence while still being connected to family and their support network.
For this family of three, the Small Homes Northwest initiative has been truly life-changing. With a stable living situation, the mother can rest at ease knowing her sons have a safe, nurturing environment that they can call their own.
The success of the Small Homes Northwest initiative in Gresham serves as a beacon of hope for other families facing housing challenges. The program's model highlights the potential of community-driven initiatives in addressing the housing crisis, emphasizing the importance of unique housing options.
“Every ADU we develop with Small Homes Northwest tells a different chapter of our work to combat the housing crisis in Oregon. We wish Christin and her family great joy with their new casita and appreciate the opportunity to pair innovation and partnership to make it possible,” said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC.
This family in Gresham has found a place to call home, enabling them with the new possibility of living independently with dignity and stability. Together, we celebrate their inspiring journey, and are reminded of the profound impact that thoughtful initiatives can have on transforming lives and building a brighter future for all!
Hacienda CDC is proud to have been selected by the City of Hillsboro to develop “Dolores”, an affordable housing project built for and inspired by community
HILLSBORO, OR, March 22, 2023— Hacienda Community Development Corporation (CDC) is thrilled to announce that last night, Hillsboro City Council approved our proposal for the “Dolores” affordable housing development in response to the Walker Road Affordable Housing Request for Proposals (RFP). Hacienda’s proposal was selected after a competitive process that began in late September 2022 and attracted affordable housing developers in the region.
“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the City of Hillsboro to deliver much needed affordable housing,” said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC. Hacienda is deeply grateful for the City's commitment to housing and their investment which includes up to $10.5 million in Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds and land on Walker Road pending additional City and Metro project approvals. Dolores will be sited on two parcels in the Tanasbourne area and will include 67 new affordable homes in a 3-story, elevator-served, community-inspired building with 74 off-street parking spaces.
The new affordable housing community, designed by Access Architecture, will be built by LMC Construction and is inspired by the area’s cultural diversity and the site’s history as a hazelnut tree orchard. The design aims to enhance resident well-being, accessibility, and connectivity with a courtyard, play area, greenspace, covered outdoor gathering space, offices for on-site resident services, and an Earth Advantage GOLD rating.
Named after Latina agricultural labor rights advocate Dolores Huerta, “Dolores” includes 67 affordable rental apartments, including 20 one-bedroom, 17 two-bedroom, 26 three-bedroom, and 3 four-bedroom units, all designated for community members earning 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and below. Of these 67 apartments, ten will be Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) to serve individuals and families exiting homelessness. Almost half of the apartments will be affordable to very low-income households, those earning up to 30% Area Median Income. New Narrative will partner with Hacienda to provide wrap-around services for individuals and families served by permanent supportive housing.
“I’m very proud of the work that has been done,” said Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway following the City Council vote for the project. “This new development will provide people homes, provide people roots, provide people a strong future, and create a stronger community.”
Hacienda CDC, a community-based organization that provides affordable housing and holistic community programming and services, will be the project’s developer and owner, and provide on-site resident services. Hacienda has 11 affordable housing communities in the region, including the recently opened Las Adelitas in NE Portland. This is Hacienda’s first affordable housing development in Washington County.
Along with Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds reserved for this project other sources of funding will include Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, permanent debt with Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credits (OAHTC) interest rate subsidy, and deferred developer fees.
We are grateful for the opportunity to develop affordable housing in Hillsboro, and we look forward to this opportunity to partner with the City of Hillsboro, Metro and Washington County to deliver quality affordable housing, culturally responsive resident services, and robust community building opportunities.
Hacienda CDC is proud to announce the grand opening celebration of Las Adelitas, a new community in the heart of Portland’s Cully neighborhood. The community was brought to life on the site of a once-neglected piece of land has now blossomed into a community designed for families and individuals looking for safe and affordable homes. Built with community in mind, Las Adelitas is now a place where residents can thrive and grow and access additional support through Hacienda’s holistic programming and services.
Attendees at the Grand Opening celebration were able to witness firsthand how Hacienda CDC’s commitment to creating affordable and accessible housing for families and individuals has most recently transformed the Sugar Shack into Las Adelitas, a community named after Female Mexican Revolutionaries, which aims to prioritizes the well-being of its residents and provides a platform for growth and opportunity.
The program started at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 9th, with opening remarks by Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC, who shared his vision for the project and spoke about Hacienda’s mission to support its existing and growing community. Also in attendance were Governor Tina Kotek, Director Andrea Bell of Oregon Housing and Community Services, Commissioner Carmen Rubio of Multnomah County, Councilor Mary Nolan of Oregon Metro, Bryan Guiney of United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Molly Rogers of the Portland Housing Bureau, Cat Vielma of Red Stone Equity, Alex Salazar of Salazar Architect, Jaclyn Sarna of Hacienda CDC, and Vanesa Mendoza, a long-time Cully community member and Hacienda CDC staff.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of Las Adelitas and to see this community come to life,” said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC. “Our commitment to creating affordable and accessible housing for families and individuals has transformed the Sugar Shack into a community that prioritizes the well-being of its residents and provides a place for stability, growth, and opportunity. People thought it couldn’t be done, but here we are in the heart of this beautiful space celebrating together.
“When we all work together and we’re bold, and tenacious, we get stuff done… This is a community triumph. This project, this community, this home is going to transform this community… and it wasn’t easy but should be easier for communities to put resources together to get people homes in a place like this.” says Governor Tina Kotek
“We talk about change and today we are actualizing turning a vision into a force of action. And for me, from my seat, that is what hope looks like, that is what optimism looks like… This is not about numbers or abstracts, but how people are doing. How are the people we serve? And what we are seeing today is the manifestation of that course of action,” says Director Andrea Bell, Oregon Housing and Community Services.
The grand opening celebration concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the community, a dance performance by Peru Baila Asi, and musical performance by Freddy Vilches.
Ernesto Fonseca, speakers from the grand opening event, and a resident from Las Adelitas are available for interviews by request.
For more information about Las Adelitas, visit lasadelitas.org
Construction is underway on six prototype homes headed to Oregon communities this summer
PORTLAND, Ore.— Inside a sprawling warehouse at the Port of Portland’s Terminal 2, a potential solution to ease Oregon’s housing shortage is swiftly taking shape. Workers are assembling six prototype modular homes using Oregon-produced mass timber that will soon house pre-selected families and individuals in four communities (Madras, Otis, Portland and Talent). Led by Hacienda CDC, the pilot project (among the first of its kind in the nation) aims to demonstrate how modular housing built with mass timber could provide a more efficient, faster and less expensive way to build housing. The pilot was spearheaded by $5 million in funding from the Oregon Legislature.
On Friday, Hacienda offered a first look at the prototype homes, called Mass Casitas, to city and state officials, including Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Senator Jeff Merkley, community leaders, and the media at the Port of Portland’s Marine Terminal 2.
“We need more homes now to address Oregon’s urgent housing crisis, and traditional systems alone will not be enough to get the job done. Mass Casitas is innovative because we’re combining mass timber with modular single-family home construction to develop a process that could help Oregon add more high-quality housing, faster,” said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda.
State economists have said that Oregon has a shortage of 110,000 housing units for current residents at all income levels. To accommodate future growth, the state may need to build more than 580,000 homes by 2040. The greatest need is among residents with the lowest incomes.
“I was excited to advocate for $5 million dollars to support this vision in its infancy, and I’m thrilled today to see its first major step forward. The Mass Casitas project is proof that, together, we can act with the urgency people across our state are demanding. Bold ideas, concrete solutions, disciplined follow through. That’s how we can deliver results,” said Kotek.
The vision of Mass Casitas extends beyond housing, Fonseca said. With additional public and private investment, the model has the potential to accelerate the growth of Oregon’s mass timber industry and create new jobs — and in the process, help to revitalize former logging communities and increase economic opportunities for Oregonians, especially in rural communities and communities of color.
Visitors who toured the Mass Casitas production site on Friday saw the six prototype homes under construction. Once complete, the homes will be donated and delivered to nonprofit organizations in four Oregon communities by June 2023. The nonprofits will select which individuals and families will live in the homes.
The six prototype homes (which range in size between 1-3 bedrooms) are headed for these four Oregon communities:
1 home is going to Madras (Jefferson County); partner is Casa of Oregon
1 home is going to Otis (Lincoln County); partner is Cascade Relief Team
2 homes are going to Portland (Multnomah County); partner is Community Vision
2 homes are going to Talent (Jackson County); partner is Casa of Oregon
Following delivery of the prototypes, the Mass Casitas team will monitor how the homes perform in different climates and their utility to residents, using what they learn to improve the design, inform the production process and assess the potential of creating the units at scale.
"Mass Casitas is helping transform Terminal 2 into a site for innovation, mass timber industry transformation, and opportunity for Oregon families," said Keith Leavitt, chief trade & equitable development officer at the Port of Portland. "This project is even more evidence that mass timber can be transformative for Oregon, and it's full of opportunity for those who have been left behind, from new housing options to the creation of good-paying jobs along the timber and housing construction supply chain."
During the December 2021 special session, the Legislature allocated $5 million for Mass Casitas to the Port of Portland, which is providing the warehouse space and fund management and partnered with Hacienda, the housing organization leading the project. Other key team members are: Salazar Architect Inc. (design), Walsh Construction Co. (general contractor), VALAR Consulting Engineering (engineering), and Freres Engineered Wood (mass timber supplier/expert).
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About Hacienda CDC
Hacienda CDC is a trusted Latino/x-led community-building organization that strengthens BIPOC and low-income communities through affordable housing and holistic services for adults, families and youth. Founded in 1986 in Portland’s Cully neighborhood, Hacienda has grown to support underserved communities that face barriers to opportunity throughout urban and rural Oregon. Through our own innovative approaches and high-impact partnerships, Hacienda develops affordable housing and provides client-centered services and programs that enable people to thrive and achieve their dreams of home ownership, entrepreneurship and education. Learn more at haciendacdc.org.
Learn more about Mass Casitas and this Innovative solution to address the housing crisis
Portland, OR - Hacienda Community Development Corporation (CDC) is pleased to announce that the first residents have moved into Las Adelitas, the organization's newest affordable housing development.
Located at the corner of Killingsworth Street and Cully Boulevard in Portland’s Cully neighborhood, Las Adelitas includes 142 affordable rental apartments and a community event space. The development is designed to meet the needs of low-income families and individuals, with a mix of efficiency, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments as well as amenities such as a playground, bike storage, electric vehicle car-sharing, and a solar buyback program. The complex was designed with community in mind through various community-led workshops that spoke to the needs of families and individuals.
Applications opened September 2022 and are open on a rolling basis for individuals and families that fall below 60% of the area median income.
Las Adelitas is the outcome of a 5+ year community-driven process to transform a former vacated lot that was negatively impacting the vitality of Cully. After a grassroots effort from community and various supporters, in 2015, Hacienda, Verde, and Habitat for Humanity came together to form the coalition, Living Cully to buy the property with the support of CRAFT3, Prosper Portland, Oregon Community Fund, Meyer Memorial Trust, over $50,000 donated directly from community members, and many others. In 2017 Hacienda purchased the entire property to create affordable housing that is so desperately needed.
Aptly named after feminist Mexican revolutionaries, the building brings deep social, economic and environmental benefits to the Cully community. Inspired by community design in every detail, the community also features a large-scale mural by notable artist Michelle Angela Ortiz which features Cully community members and a poem written by a local neighbor.
First resident to Las Adelitas receives keys from Ernesto Fonseca, Hacienda Chief Executive Officer
"We are thrilled to welcome the first residents to Las Adelitas," said Chief Executive Officer, Ernesto Fonseca. "This development was once just a dream, and many people thought it couldn’t be done, now we are welcoming our first residents and celebrating it as an important step in our efforts to provide affordable housing options for low-income families and individuals in the Portland area."
In addition to affordable housing, Las Adelitas also includes a community event space and space for Portland Niños, Hacienda’s program for families with children age 0-5.
Hacienda will be celebrating the official grand opening of Las Adelitas in early Spring. For more information about Las Adelitas and our full list of funders, please visit www.lasadelitas.org.
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