The Dr. Darrell Millner Building

PORTLAND, OREGON

Goal: Serve as culturally specific affordable housing for displaced and longtime residents of North/Northeast Portland.

The Dr. Darrell Millner Building will be developed in partnership by Community Development Partners (CDP) and Self Enhancement Inc. (SEI) underneath the Alberta Alive umbrella. Located on N. Interstate in Portland’s Overlook neighborhood, the project will play a vital role in offering previously displaced residents the opportunity to return to what was historically an affluent African American neighborhood in North Portland. The Millner Building is a fully permitted project, designed by Carlton Architecture, and was awarded to CDP/SEI in 2022 as part of the Portland Housing Bureaus 2022 Metro Bond Offering.

The Millner Building is comprised of 63 units with a mix of 15 one-bedroom, 23 two-bedroom, and 25 three-bedroom units. All homes will be available to households earning 60% or less of the area median income, and are specifically designed for small families, with 75% of the unit mix offering two or more bedrooms.

The ground floor of the development will include 2,500 square feet of neighborhood serving commercial space, bike parking, car parking, a communal outdoor area, and several art murals. The development will leverage existing community assets on Alberta Street, including The Alberta Abbey (The Abbey), which is located about a mile from the site and will operate as a community space for residents to congregate and broaden their networks by participating in activities and workshops with residents from the other properties that will be developed under the Alberta Alive umbrella. The Abbey is operated by the non-profit Alberta Abbey Foundation and has a mission to provide affordable commercial and event space to local artists, businesses, and community organizations.

SEI will oversee resident services on-site with a services plan tailored to the resident population and is designed to be culturally responsive. This includes onsite events as well as connections to SEI’s many school-based and after school programs at their Center for Self Enhancement, less than a mile from the project site. SEI also offers adult programming in parenting, financial management/budgeting, matched savings, credit repair, and home ownership.

DEVELOPMENT

The Dr. Darrell Millner Building was awarded to CDP/SEI through Portland Housing Bureau’s 2022 Metro Bond Offering and came with $9.36M of Metro Housing Bonds. Other sources include $15M of Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credits (4% LIHTC’s), Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Multi-family Energy Program Grant Funds, and deferred development fee.

DATA
  • Number of units: 63
  • Lot size: 0.35 acres
  • Density: 145 units/acre
  • Unit size: 617-1,172 sf
  • Unit mix: 16 1BD, 23 2BD, 25 3BD
  • Parking Spaces: 12
  • Affordability: 30%, 60% AMI
  • Sustainability: Earth Advantage Gold
  • Total Cost: $34.5 M
TEAM
  • Architect: Carleton Hart Architecture
  • Contractor: LMC Construction
  • Property Management: Guardian Management LLC
  • Nonprofit Partner: Self Enhancement Inc.(SEI)

PARTNERS

CDP is proud to partner with these organizations on our newest addition to Alberta Alive, who are critical team members that share our vision for Alberta Alive – championing the revival of Black N/NE Portland, where residents can feel at home and connected with their neighbors, creating a strong community that will retain, attract, and grow generations of Black legacy.

Self Enhancement Inc.

Founded in 1981, Self Enhancement Inc. (SEI) is dedicated to guiding underserved youth to realize their full potential. Working with schools, families, and partner community organizations, SEI provides support, guidance, and opportunities to achieve personal and academic success. SEI brings hope to individual young people and enhances the quality of community life by being a comprehensive, one-stop resource for African-American youth and families and others living in poverty and seeking culturally responsive services. Today, SEI is Oregon’s largest African American-led nonprofit multi-service organization, and second-largest minority-operated employer. To learn more, please visit: https://www.selfenhancement.org/

Portland Housing Bureau (PHB)

The Dr. Darrell Millner Building received project support from PHB, a government organization dedicated to the vision of ensuring that all Portlanders can access affordable housing equitably. Their N/NE Preference Policy program addresses the harmful impacts of urban renewal by giving preference to housing applicants with generational ties to North/Northeast Portland. The Dr. Darrell Millner Building applies this preference to their leasing process. To learn more, please visit: portland.gov/phb/nnehousing/preference-policy.