Portland’s City Council voted Tuesday to allocate $2.5 million toward two new affordable‑homeownership developments that aim to counteract decades of systemic harm in the city’s historic Black neighborhoods.
One site, dubbed the Williams and Russell project, sits across from Legacy Emanuel Hospital on the edge of Interstate 5 in North Portland, while the other, the SEI development, occupies a parcel in the Albina district that has long been a focal point of community activism.
The Williams and Russell project will receive $1 million to construct 85 affordable units, including townhomes and a daycare center, and to establish a small business hub, whereas the SEI project will be funded with $1.5 million to build 49 units ranging from townhouses to duplexes and to restore adjacent wetlands.
Both initiatives are restricted to households earning no more than 120 percent of the area median income, with a particular emphasis on buyers earning between 60 percent and 80 percent of that benchmark, and they will employ culturally tailored outreach to connect with prospective owners.
A historic step toward equity
Councilor Candace Avalos warned that the funding process must remain transparent and equitable, while Councilor Loretta Smith, who has been registered as a lobbyist for SEI and other community groups, argued that the lower home‑ownership rate among Black Portlanders makes the investment urgent.
The council’s debate reflected a broader tension between ad‑hoc project approvals and a proposed formal allocation system, a discussion that was amplified by the recent passage of the “Keep Portland Housed” package, which creates a $17.5 million revolving loan fund for similar developments.
Local coalitions, including the Coalition of Communities of Color, the Welcome Home Coalition, and the Portland Metro Chamber, voiced strong support, with Chamber President Andrew Hoan noting that the projects will expand affordable housing and enable multi‑generational wealth building.
If realized, the developments could reshape the urban landscape of North Portland and Albina, offering a concrete step toward rectifying past city policies that have contributed to housing insecurity in those neighborhoods.