Habitat’s summer is ramping up to be one of the busiest seasons ever, with new communities underway across the Portland metro area.
Highlighting recent progress were two site celebrations! The first, at Gooseberry Trails, marked a milestone for Habitat, commemorating its largest community to date, with 52 homes in the Hillsdale neighborhood of southwest Portland. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Portland Councilwoman Carmen Rubio joined city and regional representatives, and a crowd of community members, to celebrate what will be the largest homeownership community to date in the Portland region.
The second celebration was for Myrtlewood Way in Gresham’s Rockwood neighborhood, where work will soon begin on 20 homes. We were joined by State Reps. Zach Hudson and Ricki Ruiz, along with local government representatives. Site development is expected to begin in the fall.
Gooseberry Trails is in the land preparation stages, and volunteers and staff have begun removing invasive species from the surrounding conservation zone. Construction Project Manager Leigh Armstrong reports that demolition of an old parking lot on the property will begin soon, with the asphalt removed for recycling.
Then it is all about the dirt. Tens of thousands of yards of dirt will have to leave the site to make way for utilities and construction. But it doesn’t go to waste. Whenever possible, following an inspection by a geotech engineer, dirt from construction sites is often reused elsewhere in various forms, and has moved from one Habitat site to another. “Depending on what it is, they give it to somebody who needs it,” Armstrong said. “It’s a surprisingly complicated business, dirt.”
Most of the homes at Gooseberry are sized for families, with 3 or more bedrooms. The community is near two city parks, the Hillsdale library, and public transportation, and will feature a play area and a conservation zone with a nature path.
Gooseberry Trails is made possible with support of the City of Portland and Metro Housing Bond funding, LIFT financing from Oregon Housing and Community Services, federal America Rescue Plan Act funds secured by Senator Rob Wagner and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas, a steep discount on nearly 5 acres of land from the Greater Portland Bible Church, and hundreds of individuals who have donated both money and time to make affordable homeownership possible for more people in our community.
Century Commons
Thanks to the work of volunteers and staff, this 18-home community in Hillsboro’s Reedville neighborhood is growing fast!
Check out this video to see an overview of the Century Commons community:
All the buildings are in various stages of construction: while one building is being framed by volunteers, roofing is going on others, and electrical and heating and cooling systems are being installed in still more. The community features 3- and 4-bedroom townhomes as well as 4 single-level, ADA-ready homes.
Coming up will be siding, windows and doors, and then these homes will really take shape.
Century is a spacious community, with private yards and garden spaces, in addition to the communal spaces landscaped by Habitat. Century is expected to be complete in summer, 2025.
King City
Located just south of Tigard, our King City community is springing to life with all three foundations completed and framing and roofing finished on the first of the three buildings that make up this 16-home community.
When framing is completed on the second building, workers will move onto the third, with trade partners in plumbing, electric and mechanics following right behind with installations. August will be full of activity!
Habitat works to include natural areas in all its communities, and at King City, there will be a landscaped communal area with an interactive play area nestled within a grassy lawn, trees, and shrubs. The area includes an elevated sand table, and a water pump sends a stream down a dry creek channel for children to play with, all accessible for people who use wheelchairs. The water feature will be designed to fit into the natural setting, with space for children to play and seating for adults.
“I think it’s a nice little spot where I can picture people hanging out and kids playing,” said Ian Gallager, Habitat’s project manager for the site.
Twenty Fifth Terrace
With public improvements nearly complete, Twenty Fifth Terrace has a busy schedule ahead with paving and utility preparations.
Power poles have gone up, electrical conduits and vaults are being built, and 25th Avenue and Taylors Ferry Road are being repaved. ADA ramps have already been installed at the corner. When onsite stormwater and other utility infrastructure is installed, work will begin on installing the private drive, and by next spring, workers will begin digging foundations.
Other sites in the pipeline include West Lake Grove, our first Lake Oswego community. Public and private site improvements are finished, except a new turn signal on Boones Ferry Road to control traffic on and off the private road. Now the work begins on the homes themselves – 23 altogether – which will see framing starting this winter.
