Last week, Solomon Greene, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), along with Northwest Regional Administrator Andrew Lofton, visited Portland as part of HUD's national "Road to Innovation” Tour. This tour is a precursor to the 2024 Innovative Housing Showcase scheduled next month in Washington, DC. Before arriving in Portland, PDAS Greene had visited Detroit, Minneapolis, and Seattle.
During their visit to Portland, Greene and Lofton toured several innovative affordable housing developments. “The varied projects we toured in the Portland area... demonstrate that Oregon’s housing sector shares in HUD’s belief that new and innovative approaches are needed to solve the housing crisis,” said Solomon Greene. He also emphasized the importance of centering low-income and marginalized residents in these innovative approaches.
Andrew Lofton highlighted the role of affordable housing developers in leading sustainability efforts across Oregon and the Portland region. He underscored that partnerships are crucial in tackling the housing crisis.
The “Road to Innovation” tours will conclude with HUD’s 2024 Innovative Housing Showcase from June 7th through 9th on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The public event will feature leading homebuilders, technologists, and designers showcasing their novel approaches to increasing housing supply, lowering construction costs, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing housing expenses.
One of the stops on their tour was Orchards at Orenco in Hillsboro, Oregon. This development is recognized as a model of innovation and sustainable design in affordable housing. "Orchards at Orenco is more than just a building; it's a vibrant community that embodies our commitment to pioneering solutions in affordable housing," said Margaret Salazar, CEO of REACH Community Development.
The group also held discussions on Cost-Efficient Design and Construction (CEDC) principles with Walsh Construction Co. and Northwest Housing Alternatives. These principles include construction design, assembly, and materials innovation.
The tour concluded with a visit to the historic Albina neighborhood. Here, they met with the Albina Vision Trust (AVT), a local nonprofit developer spearheading the largest restorative redevelopment in the United States. AVT's 94-acre, community-led development vision has brought over half a billion dollars of investment to Lower Albina in the past three years.
