PORTLAND, Ore. — What was once old is new again in downtown Portland. On Wednesday afternoon, a grand opening celebration was held at the Fairfield Apartments, Portland’s newest affordable housing project.
Years of planning and renovations has finally paid off with the building that sits along Harvey Milk Street and Southwest 11th Avenue in downtown Portland. The building itself was built in 1911, and over the last year, it has been renovated.
“It’s incumbent upon us to make this multi-layered environment where all of us can call home, not just those who are at the top of the income scale,” said Nkenge Harmon Johnson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Portland.
Johnson said this project didn’t happen overnight, saying that it took time working together side by side and asking for help from local organizations.
Taxpayers passed a bond four years ago, which helped secure funding for the 75-room apartment building. U.S Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici also helped secure $2 million for this project.
There are several studio apartments and single bedrooms with shared kitchen and dining areas.
“Each individual will receive assistance toward their monthly rent, so they don’t exceed 30% of their income to rent, so it makes it affordable for the families who will be living here,” said Ivory Mathews, CEO for Home Forward, one of the local organizations that helped with the renovation of the hotel building.
Johnson with the Urban League of Portland said it took a lot of heart and belief to get the building ready as fast as they did.