Presenters:

Ben Gates, AIA, Central City Concern, Portland, OR

Richard Harris, MSW, Central City Concern, Portland, OR

Dee Walsh, REACH Community Development, Portland, OR

Ed McNamara, Turtle Island Development, LLC

Tours are open to Living Future 09 attendees only!

In a nation with profound wealth, more than 1 million people are homeless and lack access to basic shelter, education, health and welfare. However, housing issues are not faced by the homeless alone. One third of the nation, 95 million people, live in housing that is either substandard or unnafordable. Join a walking tour of three affordable, mixed-use apartment buildings within Portland’s Pearl District to see how developers and the City are tackling this most serious challenge to improve the lives of its citizens. 

Central City Concern, Reach Community Development, and Turtle Island Development LLC, bring a combined 60 years of experience in developing affordable housing and improving the lives of Portland’s homeless and low-income people. In total they have developed and operate close to 3,000 units of affordable housing. 

Tour their recent projects: the Richard L. Harris Building (180 units of alcohol and drug free housing), Station Place Tower (176 units of senior housing) and the Sitka Apartments (209 units of housing).

Learn about the populations these buildings serve, each organization’s unique approach toward affordable housing, and how design decisions (including green building) are tailored towards a building’s population.

Walk though through the Pearl District, discovering how this former werehouse/industrial area of the central city has become a model for central city liveability.

Tour will meet at Richard L. Harris Building at 8 NW 8th Ave. (approximately 8 blocks North from the Nines). Please meet on the park immediately in front of the building.

Pre-registration is required for building tours. Each tour is capped at 40 people.

Presenter bios

Ben Gates

Ben Gates is a project manager and in-house architect for Central City Concern. In 2005, the Frederick P. Rose Architectural Fellowship gave him the opportunity transition from the practice of architecture in the private sector into non-profit affordable housing design and development at Central City Concern. The Fellowship creates partnerships between emerging architects and community-based organizations to direct the skills and passions of the architects in the service of low and moderate-income communities.

Richard Harris

Richard Harris retired from his position as Executive Director of Central City Concern last year, after 29 years of service. Richard has 39 years of experience in the fields of social services, housing and chemical dependency treatment. Founded in 1979, Central City Concern has developed a comprehensive continuum of affordable housing options integrated with direct social services including healthcare, recovery and employment. Central City Concern owns and/or manages over 1300 units of housing in 22 buildings throughout the metropolitan area.

Dee Walsh

Dee Walsh has been the Executive Director of REACH Community Development since 1990. Dee has close to 30 years of experience working in the field of housing and community development within both public and private firms. Founded in 1982, REACH has developed or preserved nearly 1200 units of affordable housing, revitalized residential areas and business districts and provided asset building programs and services to residents of REACH-owned housing.

Ed McNamara

Ed McNamara is the owner and sole member of Turtle Island Development, LLC. In 2002, Ed started his own company to focus on affordable and market-rate multifamily development.  Ed has over 30 years of experience in construction and in private sector and non-profit real estate development. Ed draws from his former experience as a general contractor, director of two community-based development organizations, and as a private real estate developer.