Community Development Partners (CDP), an affordable housing development company and Northwest Oregon Housing Authority (NOHA), which administers federal Housing Choice Vouchers and owns and operates rental properties in Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties, have announced plans for the 238-unit affordable housing community.
Located off Gable Road and Highway 30, the development is envisioned as a true intergenerational community, connecting working adults, families, and seniors through high quality affordable housing in an environment that encourages interaction and neighborliness, according to a release from the developers.
“I am excited about housing coming to St. Helens that has been long overdue and that will bring a community of families together,” Northwest Oregon Housing Authority board chair Nina Reed said. “The intergenerational feature of the plan provides an opportunity for healthy living through an emphasis on nature and wellness to enhance lives.”
The new development will be situated on over 18 acres and includes a grove of old trees within natural protected wetlands. Eleven buildings will dot the site, including 157 family-sized units in five 3-story walk-up apartment buildings, 31 townhomes divided across four buildings, an 80-unit senior housing building, and a 4,500 sq. ft. community building.
The community building is central to the site and is designed to be where families and seniors come together around a large gathering space with a full kitchen for multi-generational meals and social events. The building also includes rooms for studying/tutoring, a computer room, tv room, and shared conference rooms.
The development team’s approach to the outdoor space is rooted in the simple idea that nature is good for us, according to the release. The site has been designed to take advantage of the on-site wetlands by including a trail system that runs along its edge and ample outdoor spaces for recreational opportunities, including grass fields, picnic and BBQ areas, and gardening areas with fruit trees allowing residents to grow and share culturally relevant foods.
“We are thrilled to be partnered with NOHA as we begin moving forward with St. Helens Apartments,” CDP CEO Eric Paine said. “We’re in the midst of a housing crisis here in Oregon that is only being exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic. This project will help meet the local housing need by providing quality, affordable homes for Columbia County residents as well as serving as a hub for important social services that support our residents and enhance the larger community.”
The release also stated that the St. Helens Apartments will provide desperately needed affordable housing options coupled with robust resident service opportunities for families and seniors within Columbia County. Units will be available to residents who make at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Community services will be helmed by EngAGE, a culturally responsive organization with 20 years of experience changing lives through transformative affordable, multigenerational apartment communities.
“St. Helens Apartments is an amazing opportunity to create an intentional community where services focused on housing stability, art, wellness, lifelong learning and community engagement can be housed under one roof,” EngAGE Founder and CEO Tim Carpenter said. “This project will not only meet a housing need, it will meet a service need for communities of color, seniors, and low-income residents in Columbia County.”
