Construction Begins on New, Permanently Affordable Townhomes
January 26, 2026
The eight homes are part of the larger Alberta Alive initiative and will be available to residents with ties to Portland’s historically Black neighborhoods
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 26, 2026—Construction has begun on the Alberta Alive Townhomes, eight townhomes in Northeast Portland that will use a community land trust model to keep them affordable for generations of future owners.
The 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath townhomes are underway at the corner of NE Alberta Street and NE Mallory Avenue. Funded in part by the voter-approved Metro affordable housing bond, The Townhomes will be available to households that earn 60 to 80% of the area median income ($74,460 to $99,280 for a four-person household).
Community Development Partners (CDP), a mission-driven affordable housing developer, partnered to build The Townhomes with Self Enhancement, Inc., Oregon’s largest African American-led nonprofit, the Portland Housing Bureau, Proud Ground (a nonprofit community land trust), Oregon Housing and Community Services and Summit Bank.
As part of the Portland Housing Bureau’s N/NE Preference Policy, The Townhomes will be reserved for families who live in North and inner Northeast Portland and are at risk of displacement, previously lived in the area, or have historical connections to it. The policy aims to address the harmful impacts of urban renewal and displacement.
“Oregon’s history of redlining and other discriminatory housing policies denied Black families a basic pathway to accumulating property and generational wealth,” said Metro Councilor Mary Nolan. “The Alberta Alive Townhomes are a step toward justice, giving low-income families with ties to North and Northeast Portland’s historically Black neighborhoods the opportunity to become first-time homebuyers.”
“Owning a home offers families the stability to not only survive, but thrive,” said Trent Aldridge, CEO of Self Enhancement, Inc. “This development will provide the opportunity for families to invest in a financial asset that supports long-term well-being and community growth.”
The Townhomes are expected to be ready for move-in in October 2026. They are the final housing component of the larger Alberta Alive initiative, a community-driven revitalization effort co-led by CDP and SEI, that is aimed at creating long-term stability and opportunity in Portland’s historically Black neighborhoods.
In addition to The Townhomes, Alberta Alive encompasses four additional apartment-style developments, for a total of 198 housing units, all within one mile of each other. The other developments, all completed, are: The Strong Empowerment Center (75 units); The Dr. Darrell Millner Building (63 units); The Ronnie Herndon Building (21 units); and The Paul and Geneva Knauls Building (31 units).
Ownership model chosen by community
We All Rise, a community development firm, met with North and inner Northeast Portland residents to help them determine the best ownership model for The Townhomes. They settled on a community land trust, a form of shared equity ownership. Residents will own their homes, while Proud Ground, the community land trust, will own the land. When an owner sells, the owner will retain some equity, but with restrictions on how much they can make from the sale in order to keep the home affordable for the next owner.
“In alignment with the N/NE Preference Policy, this project creates a pathway for first-time homebuyers to achieve long-term stability and begin building intergenerational wealth. The Alberta Alive Townhomes are a tangible investment in family stability, equity, and inclusive growth. Thank you to Metro area voters for backing affordable housing,” said Leslie Goodlow, Equity and Business Operations Manager for the Portland Housing Bureau.
The Townhomes will be set back from the road and constructed on a plinth, to match historical construction styles in the area. They will have dedicated parking and their own backyards, with a mix of public and private outdoor spaces designed to foster community and livability.
“The design of both the site and the townhomes was directly shaped by the feedback that we got from the community,” said Sarah Schubert, CDP’s Director of Development NW.
Development and financing
The Townhomes were designed by Scott Edwards Architecture. The contractor is Owen Gabbert LLC. Financing was made possible through $500,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds and $1.23 million in Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds administered by the Portland Housing Bureau, a LIFT Homeownership Loan, a LIFT Supplemental Grant, and a Capacity Building Grant provided by Oregon Housing and Community Services. Summit Bank is the construction lender.
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Community Development Partners
Founded in 2011, Community Development Partners develops and operates sustainable, life-enhancing affordable housing with a focus on long term community engagement and innovative design. As a mission-driven, forward-thinking organization, CDP is focused exclusively on creating vibrant affordable housing communities that incorporate art, public parks, gardens, fresh food, and cultural and social programming. Today, CDP has built, preserved or is actively developing over 55 unique projects comprising 4,800+ affordable homes throughout Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. It is a certified B Corporation.
Self Enhancement, Inc.
Since 1981, Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) has been committed to guiding underserved youth and families to realize their full potential. SEI works in partnership with schools, families, and community organizations to offer culturally responsive programs that address education, workforce development, and family support. As Oregon’s largest African American-led nonprofit, SEI remains focused on providing holistic, wraparound services to Portland’s African American community.
Guided by a vision that all Portlanders should have equitable access to affordable housing and to the opportunities that a safe, stable home can deliver, the Portland Housing Bureau leads housing policy for the City of Portland and administrates programs to produce affordable rental housing, expand homeownership and stabilize homeowners, and regulate and assist tenants and landlords in the rental housing market.
Metro is working to create new affordable housing and to reduce homelessness through services that support housing access and stability. It does this through the oversight of two measures: In 2018, voters in greater Portland approved the affordable housing bond to generate $652.8 million to create homes for approximately 12,000 people, and in May 2020, voters approved a supportive housing services fund to expand services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Metro collaborates with local cities and counties to implement these local solutions to address a homelessness crisis affecting all communities across greater Portland.
