Emmons Place Apartments

I no longer believe in “COINCIDENCE.” It’s just a big word for God. For those who believe in “COINCIDENCE,” I respect that belief.

My great friend and former law partner, the late Tim Ramis, and I had attempted for years to develop our former law office at 1727 NW Hoyt Street. The building had been vacant since 2008. To redevelop it, the cost of upgraded code compliance was in excess of $1,000,000.

Here is how I connect the dots that led me to Northwest Pilot Project (NWPP). In 2014, I read about NWPP turning away 750 very low-income seniors in need of housing due to lack of resources. I called Susan Emmons, its then Executive Director. We started an emergency housing fund that has kept approximately 800 very low-income seniors from losing their housing.

In January of 2015, after the City Council denied our application for a demolition permit to build apartments, I felt directed by the Holy Spirit to call Susan. Susan introduced me to Stephen McMurtrey (formerly of Northwest Housing Alternatives (NHA).

Stephen, Tim, and I laid out a strategy for the construction of 160 housing units for low-income seniors. After an intense battle with the Northwest District Association (NWDA), the application was approved for 48 units of senior housing and 98 units of affordable housing. (Thank you, Mayor Wheeler. Without your courage and support, the MIRACLE never would have happened).

We contracted with NHA for the building and operation of the apartment complex. NHA is one of Oregon's largest and oldest nonprofit developers of affordable housing in Oregon. Founded in 1982, it is the leading not-for-profit developer of affordable housing in Oregon.

We also partnered with NWPP. NWPP is focused on placing low-income and very low-income seniors (age 55 and over) in Multnomah County, who are capable of independent living, in rental housing that is safe, permanent, and affordable. One of the reasons I like NWPP is that it spends its money like I spend mine—carefully.

NWPP receives an average of 5,000 calls per year for adults over 55 years of age who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Multnomah County. This acute shortage of afford­able housing for the extremely low-income leads to homelessness.

City officials say there is a shortage of 25,000 affordable housing units in Portland. The NWDA, in its strident opposition, did all of us a favor. Our proposed boutique-hotel, condominium units, apartments, and other redevelopment concepts would never have produced the “good” coming from this MIRACLE.

Feel free to contribute to NWPP’s important work that they are doing so well.



DONATE HERE to NW Pilot Project

The project’s challenges

It has taken more than seven years to get to this point. The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals dismissed NWDA’s appeal after the City Council’s approval.

“THE BEST CRITICISM OF BAD IS THE PRACTICE OF THE BETTER. OPPOSITIONAL ENERGY ONLY PRODUCES MORE OF THE SAME.”

The project’s rewards

The reward is an apartment complex with subsidized rent for the very lowest-income seniors. The tenants will be older adults with incomes of less than $25,000 annually who can only afford to pay $300 to $500 per month.

Additionally, many of the soon-to-be residents are some of the most vulnerable seniors in our community. Many of the seniors will be moving from homelessness to housing.

Current state of the project

The 48 senior units will open in mid-to-late January. The 98 affordable housing units will open for residents in the summer of 2023.

Gonzaga … More than Basketball

Amazingly, Northwest Pilot Project has three current volunteers who are all, like I (class of 1965), Gonzaga graduates.

Barb Gorman, Gonzaga class of 1990, NWPP Board Member says, “While GU nurtured my commitment to service, being involved in one’s community was instilled most definitely by my family and by also being raised in a Jesuit parish.”

Says Olivia Grob, Gonzaga class of 2022, NWPP’s Jesuit volunteer, “I believe it is impossible to attend Gonzaga University and not be aware of a commitment to service. During my time at Gonzaga, a phrase that I consistently heard was to be a person for and with others.

“One of the most positive aspects of this experience has been getting to serve alongside such diligent, compassionate, and hardworking individuals at NWPP in the hopes of helping low-income, older adults thrive in housing.”

According to Kate Suhadolnik, Gonzaga class of 2011, “I definitely feel like Gonzaga imparted upon me a sense of the importance of engaging in and giving back to the community we are a part of.

“I think all Zags know that one of the best parts about attending Gonzaga was the sense of community on campus, and I think that should inspire us all to try to contribute to building community once we’re out in the world. That’s one of the things that drew me to NWPP as an organization.”

God’s Hall of Fame

Mayor Ted Wheeler, Susan Emmons, Laura Golino de Lovato (NWPP), Stephen McMurtrey (Dream Development, LLC), Rachel Monahan (Willamette Week), Elliott Njus (Oregonian), Nigel Jaquiss (Willamette Week), Nick Budnick (formerly Portland Tribune).

Poverty Hall of Shame

I could never understand how people with assets would not only not help those without assets, but would go to such lengths to deny the less fortunate a basic need—safe, secure, and decent shelter.

AMEN!

When we go to St. Peter, he is going to ask us how we helped our fellow persons on earth with what we were given. These NWPP Gonzaga graduates surely have the answer.