Tag: Downtown Infill Development

Julia West House Opens in Downtown Portland

The Julia West House, a 12-story mass timber apartment tower in downtown Portland’s West End, officially opened in late 2025, delivering 90 units of permanent supportive housing targeted at formerly unhoused seniors. Located at 580 SW 13th Avenue on a former surface parking lot owned by First Presbyterian Church—the site of a historic home previously used for church programs—the project provides 90 total units: 89 regulated affordable units (60 studios and 30 one-bedrooms) reserved for individuals earning 30% or less of area median income, with the remaining unit serving as an unrestricted on-site manager apartment.

The tower retains the name Julia West House in honor of Julia West Lindsley, wife of the church’s first pastor, continuing a legacy of community service at the address. Situated directly across SW 13th Avenue from the Sam Galbreath Alder House—a renovated income-restricted single-room occupancy building also offering supportive services—the location creates a concentrated hub for permanent supportive housing in the West End. This focus addresses a critical segment of need: nearly a quarter of Portland’s unhoused population is age 55 or older, with BIPOC communities disproportionately represented.

On-site wraparound services, delivered by Northwest Pilot Project, Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, and Community for Positive Aging, include case management, health support, and programs to promote aging in place and housing stability. As Oregon’s tallest mass timber residential structure at 145 feet, the building utilizes cross-laminated timber floors and glulam beams above a concrete podium, enabled by Type IV-B heavy timber provisions. This construction method reduced embodied carbon, shortened the schedule by approximately 14 weeks, and incorporates biophilic and trauma-informed design elements—such as exposed wood ceilings—for resident well-being.

Financing combined public and private sources, including 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and contributions from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, demonstrating a viable model for deeply affordable urban infill.

Appraisal Implications

Residential Properties

Developments like Julia West House expand the supply of deeply affordable and supportive rental housing in the Portland metro area, where single-family inventory remains limited. These projects provide market evidence of ongoing efforts to address affordability and homelessness in central locations with strong transit access, informing highest and best use considerations for nearby properties and enhancing neighborhood marketability.

Multifamily Properties

Mass timber construction in high-density supportive projects sets emerging precedents for sustainable building practices, potentially affecting future replacement costs, capitalization rates, and development feasibility in urban zones. Restricted affordable units, supported by Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and similar programs, require appraisers to carefully isolate restricted interests from fee simple value. While challenges persist—as illustrated by the 1,863 vacant regulated units reported earlier this week—successful openings like Julia West House highlight effective delivery models for mission-driven housing with integrated services.

Market Context

Q3 2025 median prices for detached single-family homes stood at $600,000 regionally and $555,000 in Multnomah County, reinforcing the ongoing need for affordable alternatives beyond the for-sale market. Purpose-built supportive housing adds targeted supply that supports broader regional stability without directly competing in the single-family segment.

Sources & Further Reading

• Julia West House opening and supportive housing overview: CoStar News
• Project details, unit mix, and affordability structure: City of Portland Housing Bureau
• Resident services, demographics, and financing notes: Community Development Partners
• Mass timber construction report: Mass Timber Conference
• Sustainability and schedule case study: Mass Timber Conference PDF
• Engineering and design features: PAE Engineers
• Recent affordable housing vacancy context: Portland Appraisal Blog
• Q3 2025 detached SFR market data: Portland Appraisal Blog

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