Written by Karen Werstein
As a prominent street in the King neighborhood, there’s so much to love about Killingsworth Street — delicious restaurants, unique shops, and vibrant energy. Young musicians bustle into classes at Ethos Music Center, and live music often rings out from nearby churches and bars.
But one corner has been a source of frustration and concern for far too long.
A Neighborhood Concern
“I’ve owned my house on the block (NE Rodney Ave) for two decades and have seen the neighborhood change quite a bit to say the least. For the past few years, the vacant house that was located at 111 NE Killingsworth St. had deteriorated due to both neglect and fires,” shared local neighbor Greg Glover. “It had become unsafe both for squatters who often inhabited the building and for those of us who live nearby.”
Many neighbors agreed. “I’ve lived here 24 years and never experienced anything like this. I was getting worried,” shared Diana Moosman, a longtime resident of the neighborhood.
With a lot of engagement from neighbors, the City of Portland Permitting and Development Bureau vacated unauthorized occupants at the property in 2024, but the fire-damaged structures remained.
Habitat Steps In
After another year of concerns, Habitat was informed about this property and purchased it this summer. On July 14, excited neighbors gathered to watch the demolition of the distressed house. But this demolition wasn’t just about tearing down – it was about building up.
“I was glad to hear that a reputable organization had taken over the property,” shared Greg.
Habitat will transform the lot into four affordable homes for sale. All of the homes will be purchased with affordable mortgages, sold to first-time homebuyers ready to plant roots and build equity in this community. Each home will be Platinum Earth Advantage certified, meeting the highest standards for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainable building practices.
Local Architect, Personal Connection
The excitement extends beyond just neighbors to the professionals bringing this vision to life.
“We are most looking forward to helping Habitat and our Portland community transform it back into an important neighborhood asset,” shared Ray Culi, co-designer with Beate Ioanide-Culi of R&B Architecture Studio, the architect firm for the site. “This is a great neighborhood that is so close to so many things and a place that is easy to build connections and community.”
Ray is no stranger to this site. “This is also our neighborhood. I was going past this site every morning on our bike ride to school when my kids were younger and on our way to church on Sundays.”
Ray is also no stranger to Habitat for Humanity. “I remember helping with the computer-aided design (CAD) drawing on my first Habitat single family house in NE Portland in the 90s,” recalls Ray. “As recent University of Oregon architecture graduates interning at local firms, my colleagues and I wanted to serve the community by helping design affordable houses. We were connected with the Habitat architect and volunteered to help draft a house and we were hooked!”
Ray remains hooked to this day and, along with his wife Beate, R&B Architecture Studio is now a hired contractor for several Habitat for Humanity Portland Region projects. After that first design, he realized how important it was for a designer to know both how to design and build a sustainable affordable home. “It is a special skill to build an affordable home that is thoughtful, elegant, constructed well, and sustainable while being buildable by volunteers.” Ray has had a lot of practice. This is his twelfth Habitat for Humanity community.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Habitat for Humanity also has a long history of investment in NE Portland near the Killingsworth property. In addition to its headquarters located at NE 15th & NE Killingsworth, Habitat has sold over 140 homes in NE Portland with affordable mortgages and repaired an additional 78 homes for nearby neighbors.
Upon hearing that Habitat would continue investing in the NE Portland area with the purchase of this property, Diana shared, “I’m thrilled. I think it’s fantastic to have affordable houses in Portland. It’s desperately needed.”
“It’s so encouraging that Habitat is taking this on – it’s a revitalization of the neighborhood. This is a good place and time to provide housing that is very much needed,” added Ray.
Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2026. Sign up for our e-newsletter to stay informed about this property and volunteer opportunities.
