Interstate Corridor
Crown Motel Redevelopment Project

architect design - northwest elevation
Architect design, northwest elevation (1/23/07)

Revised December 18, 2007
Project Development Tasks	Timeline

Relocation of existing motel tenants	Dec. 2007 - Jan. 2008
Demolition of existing buildings	Feb. 2008
Construction begins	March 2008
Anticipated completion and occupancy	Feb. 2009

Background

PDC is collaborating with TriMet on the development of affordable rental housing on a TriMet-owned property on Interstate Avenue between N. Emerson and N. Sumner just south of Patton Square Park and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC). The 24,000 square foot site is comprised of the site currently occupied by the Crown Motel and the adjacent vacant lot.

Due to the site’s close proximity to the TriMet MAX Yellow Line, development of the Crown Motel site provides an unique opportunity for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) within the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area. TOD provides incentives to develop residential and commercial centers with close transit access to encourage transit use. Proximity to Patton Park, the IFCC, and easy access to local services also add to the site’s value.

Through an open Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process, TriMet selected REACH Community Development as the developer for this property in May 2006. The proposed development will have 54 one, two and three-bedroom rental units, as well as over 4,000 ft2 of ground-floor retail space. All of the residential units will be affordable to families with incomes at or below 60% of the median family income for the Portland metropolitan area.

PDC anticipates providing over $4 million in urban renewal funds for the project. In addition, Project-Based Section 8 rent subsidies have been reserved for 12 of the apartments. The urban renewal funding and Section 8 program will:

help the project meet new city requirements that urban renewal resources be spent on providing housing for our lowest income residents.
help existing N/NE residents stay in the community.

Public Meeting and Community Outreach

January 23, 2007 – REACH shared the current project status and the most recent project designs were shared with the community. To see more graphics on the current Crown Motel design, click here. PDC also shared with the community that Section 8 was being considered as part of the development program.

REACH, PDC and TriMet also provide regular updates on the project to the Overlook Neighborhood Association both through the newsletter, emails to the Board Chairs and attendance at neighborhood association meetings.

Project History

The Interstate Station Area Revitalization Strategy (PDF, 25.4 MB) was developed through a series of public work sessions in 2000-2001 and adopted by the Portland City Council in July 2001. It identified the Crown Motel as a site desired for redevelopment as housing. TriMet’s acquisition of the site was the first step toward achieving the Strategy goals.

On March 13, 2006, TriMet issued a Request for Qualifications and Project Approach (RFQ). Prior to selecting a developer they held two Open Houses providing an opportunity for the public to review the proposals.

On May 15, 2006, TriMet announced the selection of REACH CDI as the developer of the Crown Motel site.

Background Materials

The Crown Motel project supports the goals for transit oriented development along Interstate, development of affordable housing targeted to households at risk of displacement from the community, and the coordination and leverage of other public and private investments in the Corridor.

Key policy documents include: