M. Carter Commons

Senior housing with priority for those on the N/NE Preference Policy waitlist

M. Carter Commons is a new affordable apartment development for North Interstate Avenue and Overlook Park. Intended to provide housing for residents 55 years and older, the design centers a Universal Design approach to accessibility to meet the needs of an aging population. M. Carter Commons is named after Margaret Louise Carter, Oregon’s first black woman legislator. The project is directly adjacent to a light rail stop with frequent access to local services, activities, and regional mass transit connections. The site is across the street from a Kaiser Permanente medical campus and within one block of the historically Black Albina District neighborhoods. Located in the Overlook neighborhood of North Portland, the developer team will utilize the N/NE Preference Policy list, prioritizing applicants impacted by urban renewal in North and Northeast Portland. Urban League of Portland will be providing culturally-specific and responsive onsite services. Through an ongoing community engagement process, we are identifying specific design strategies that result in a safe, healthy, and restorative home for future residents.

Salazar Architect is providing architecture, interior, and urban design services.

Location: Portland, Oregon
Client: Northwest Housing Alternatives, Urban League of Portland
Finance: PHB Portland Bond Funded and other sources
Units: 63 apartments
Building Area: 50,270 sf
Sustainability: Targeting Earth Advantage Gold