Multifamily Executive Awards, Green Merit
The Watershed at Hillsdale, Portland, Ore.
Credit: Sally Painter Photography
The Watershed at Hillsdale; Portland, Ore.
Low-income seniors and homeless veteran looking for housing in the Hillsdale Town Center area of southwest Portland have a new option: The Watershed at Hillsdale. The apartment project, situated on a former brownfield site, offers 51 units ranging from 615 square feet to 832 square feet in a pair of three- and four-story buildings connected by a bridge.
Tigard, Ore.-based
Community Partners for Affordable Housing developed the project, which anchors the lower west end of the Town Center, with the help of an EPA Cleanup Grant. The developer is the first nonprofit recipient of such a grant in the state.
Designed by William Wilson Architects of Portland, Ore., The Watershed also is sustainable, receiving LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The building is 30 percent more energy efficient than Oregon code requires and features Energy Star appliances, energy efficient windows, and reflective roofing. It achieves 30 percent water savings with low-flow faucets, showerheads, dishwashers, and dual-flush toilets.
The Watershed is located within walking distance to 8 bus lines, restaurants, retail shops, health care, and other support services. It was funded by 15 different funding sources including low-income housing tax credits, energy tax credits, and various grants. Forty units are subsidized by Section 8 housing vouchers, while rents average $681 per month.