Construction Scheduled to Begin on Portland, Oregon’s Newest CLT Building

The construction of a 12-story, 51,388-square-foot, CLT building in downtown Portland, Oregon, dubbed the Julia West, is scheduled to begin construction in just a few months, DJC Oregon reported (5-5-24).

The team for the approximately $58 million project includes owner/developer Community Development Partners, architect Holst Architecture, civil engineer Vega Civil Engineering, structural engineer KPFF, landscape architect Understory Landscape Architecture, and general contractor Walsh Construction.

“We are starting construction,” Mai Huynh-Carnes, senior development manager at Community Development Partners, told DJC Oregon. “We gave Walsh notice to proceed (on February 26).” Demolition is expected to begin this month. An existing parking lot and a vacant building used previously by First Presbyterian Church will be demolished, Huynh-Carnes said. Community Development Partners recently closed on its $750,000 purchase of the property from First Presbyterian Church.

Funding for the project includes a 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocation with equity investment by Aegon, rental assistance from Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Joint Office of Homeless Services, and a Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund grant. Construction financing is being provided by Bank of America and permanent financing is being provided by Citibank.

Julia West will offer 90 apartments (60 studios and 30 one-bedroom units) of permanent supportive housing (PSH) with resident services for houseless seniors earning up to 30% of the area median income, DJC Oregon reported. The building will be a 100% PSH community intended for adults 55 years and older, 45% of whom identify as a person of color.

The project is scheduled to be completed in August 2025.