New Tigard housing development answers families’ calls for space and affordability

TIGARD, Ore. – Every extra bedroom in an apartment comes with an exceedingly higher price to renters. This can make finding a home that’s big enough and affordable next to impossible for many Oregon families. This reality came into sharp focus during Metro-funded listening sessions in the in the region’s Southwest Corridor, an area from Tualatin and Tigard to downtown Portland slated for transportation improvements.

Residents of the area shared their concerns about the soaring cost of family housing – an issue made more urgent by the pattern of rising housing prices that often follow the arrival of a new MAX line.

That’s why a new affordable housing development breaking ground June 11 in Tigard is prioritizing space for families. Elected officials will gather with Community Partners for Affordable Housing to celebrate the kick-off of Woodland Hearth, which will offer 63 income-limited apartments once completed.

Most of its apartments will have two or more bedrooms, with 23 offering three or more. Twenty-six units are set aside for households earning 0-30% of the Area Median income (AMI), which for a family of four is $37,250 a year. The remainder are priced for those earning 31-50% and 51-60% AMI, and 22 units come with rent assistance.

Equity in contracting was also a core focus, with the project including partners such as Colas Construction, the general contractor, and LRS Architects, the lead architectural firm, both MWESB businesses. The project includes partnerships with five minority-owned businesses, six women-owned businesses, and three emerging small businesses – bringing the MWESB participation rate to 48%. These contracts play a vital role in helping local firms grow their capacity and competitiveness.

Washington County awarded $9.5 million from the Metro Affordable Housing Bond to fund the construction of Woodland Hearth. The project also received a $300,000 grant from Metro’s Transit-Oriented Development Program, which supports affordable housing construction near high-frequency public transit. The grant also included funding for energy efficient systems and appliances.

“Positive change requires dedication, collaboration, and consistency, and that is exactly what we’re seeing yet again with another affordable housing property breaking ground in our community,” said Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington. “The Metro Affordable Housing Bond has been a powerful tool in housing residents in need, and with homeownership out of reach for so many, affordable rent is vital. Places like Woodland Hearth, will provide opportunities for our families to prosper.”

“We hear families loud and clear – they need more space, and they need it at a price they can afford,” said Metro Councilor Gerritt Rosenthal. “The housing crisis is hitting families especially hard. Woodland Hearth is a direct response to that reality – delivering deeply affordable, family-sized homes near transit, while also investing in equitable contracting and sustainable design. It’s a project that strengthens the community – housing, economy and environment alike.”

Housing Authority of Washington County: Has been providing and developing affordable housing opportunities for over 50 years. Today, the effort continues with the county’s Department of Housing Services, formed in 1992 to administer its housing activities and programs, and that of Washington County. Its mission is to create pathways out of homelessness, promote housing stability, and invest in affordable communities for its county’s residents.