City doubles budget for affordable housing grants
The Portland Housing Bureau received 19 applications from developers for funds to construct affordable housing.
The city will award a total of $26 million in grants as well as a vacant parcel of land near the Oregon Convention Center in the annual process.
The figure is more than double the $11 million available a year ago, a result chiefly of the vagaries of tax increment financing generated through the city’s urban renewal districts.
The city will award $2 million in federal funds, which may be invested anywhere in the city. The balance will be split between projects targeting the Oregon Convention Center urban renewal district and the River district urban renewal district. The housing bureau will also award a development site at Northeast Second and Wasco. Known as the “King Crusher” site, it is two blocks north of the Oregon Convention Center, next to the Calastoga Terrace retirement center.
Related: Metro could seek lottery funds for convention hotel
Karl Dinkelspiel, program coordinator for the housing bureau, said the city will spend about two months evaluating the projects according to strict criteria. The money targets projects catering to Portland residents earning 60 percent or less of the area's median family income, or $41,600 for a family of four.
It will take six to 18 months to close a deal and start construction.
City grant funds typically serve as a catalyst, helping developers secure additional state, federal and nonprofit grants as well as bank loans and other funds to complete projects.
The tax increment funds are part of a city policy to set aside a portion of the Portland Development Commission’s budget for affordable housing.
City Commissioner Nick Fish said he was pleased the amount more than doubled in 2012.
“We believe that everyone deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home. These public dollars will support our number one investment priority: funding new affordable homes and preserving our current inventory,” he said in a statement.
Portland Business Journal subscribers can read more about what the increase in funding means for affordable housing in Friday’s paper.
The Portland Business Journal is a KATU.com news partner
Looks like more of obama's voters are going to get some more handouts at the expense of the working man and woman. Â Time for a revolution.
Hope they include parking spaces!
What a bunch of morons. Nobody DESERVES anything. I was taught at a very young age that you EARNED what you got. No freebies sans birthdays or Christmas.
Very poor journalism. The retirement facility is Calaroga Terrace not Calastoga Terrace.
I see less bike lane money in the future.
There is so much affordable housing, you can call the metro area a slum.
So if you cant afford it lets give you other peoples tax dollars so you can live like everyone else? Seriously?
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No one deserves anything we earn it at least I do.
Affordable housing - What I can afford to buy. If you can't afford to buy it, then enjoy your apartment.
Key word is affordable,which means section 8 housing,which will turn into Columbia Villa in a few short years.
urban renewal - biggest scam going
Taxes get funneled from the general fund and NEVER paid back as the money goes to the next renewal. Your kids can go without school, we need housing