The Oregonian - Beaverton city leaders, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici break ground for affordable housing project

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Shovels in hand, Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici moved the first bit of dirt where 47 units of affordable housing are expected to stand this time next year.

In attendance for the groundbreaking Wednesday, Oct. 29 were more than 30 people representing various entities from Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) to Chase to the City of Beaverton, all of which are tied to the project in some way.

"We're celebrating a long journey for CPAH and a whole lot of us," Doyle said. "This started my first year in office trying to get the city to buy this land for who knows what back then. That took a couple years and a couple of pushes."

The project, located at Southwest 2nd Street and Lombard Avenue, is called The Barcelona at Beaverton, and it's the first development of its kind in the downtown area, Doyle said.

"This is a pretty poverty-stricken area," Doyle said, adding the location was perfect for people who would move into the Barcelona. "It's right by light rail, as well as the heavy rail, 12 bus lines... You can't pick a better location for affordable housing."

Across the street off SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy is also the Beaverton Town Square where future Barcelona residents would be able to walk to the Fred Meyer and nearby retail stores.

Also across the street off SW Lombard Avenue is Stars Cabaret, a strip club. In September, Stars Cabaret manager pleaded guilty that he was he was involved with prostituting minors at the club.

Beaverton Mayor Doyle said he wasn't concerned about the proximity of the club.

"The problems there, when there have been problems, have all been inside -- not outside," Doyle said.

Cheryl Twete, community development director, said the new housing could even push Stars Cabaret out of the area.

"What begins to happen when you add more housing and more people into a community, you start to push out those types of uses because they really want to operate in areas that are away from more population," Twete said.

The Barcelona will be one of two buildings featuring a mix of affordable housing, workforce housing and commercial and office space on a block of city-owned land.

The city is leasing the land to CPAH for a dollar a year. Additionally, the affordable housing project will receive tax exemption from the city and tax credits from the state.

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