PORTLAND, Ore. — The opening of a new apartment building in Albina is being hailed as a milestone in the effort to reclaim and restore Portland’s historically Black neighborhood, more than 60 years after many families were displaced.
A Celebration of Homecoming
On Saturday, community members gathered for a block party to celebrate the launch of Albina One, a 94-unit affordable housing complex designed to give displaced families and their descendants a pathway back to the neighborhood.
The event was more than a ribbon-cutting. It was a recognition of resilience, restoration, and the possibility of return for those uprooted by past development projects.
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A Painful History
In the 1960s, construction of Interstate 5 and the Memorial Coliseum forced hundreds of Black families out of Albina. Among them was Sharon Gary-Smith, now a board member of the Albina Vision Trust.
“I sat with my parents and understood they are pushing us out, they are taking the land, they are employing eminent domain, which was very racially infused in the days to be able to claim land for the purpose of serving the public — as though we weren’t,” Gary-Smith recalled.
Now, just two blocks from her childhood home on Benton Avenue, Albina One offers a tangible opportunity to return.
“This is evidence of what you can do when you dream big and you gather people and you don’t let go,” she said.
Affordable and Accessible
Albina One provides a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, all designated as affordable housing.
According to Micha Greenberg, vice president of real estate for Albina Vision Trust, the apartments are priced at 48% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or below.
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One-bedroom units: $676–$1,062
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Larger apartments are similarly scaled to remain accessible to families with limited income.
Most leases will follow Portland’s North/Northeast preference policy, ensuring that units are prioritized for families historically displaced from Albina.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s so physically beautiful,” Gary-Smith said. “This is a real study in bringing everything together: history, restoration, and resilience.”
Building for the Future
Albina One is not just about affordability; it also incorporates sustainability. With the help of a $2 million grant from the Portland Clean Energy Fund, the building is fully electric.
“This is literally a showcase for how you can build creatively, efficiently, effectively for the long haul,” Gary-Smith said.
A New Chapter
For many, Albina One represents both a long-overdue acknowledgment of past harm and a hopeful vision for the future. By combining affordability, community-centered policies, and sustainable design, the development is more than housing — it’s a step toward justice.
“This is history coming full circle,” Gary-Smith said. “It shows what can happen when a community refuses to let its story end.”
