PORTLAND, OR, June 16, 2020—BRIDGE Housing celebrated the grand opening of The Vera today with the release of a virtual ribbon-cutting video (https://vimeo.com/428281750) that brought key partners together in spirit.
“In the era of COVID-19, we were looking for a safe and creative way to honor this milestone and highlight the importance of home and community,” said Cynthia A. Parker, BRIDGE President and CEO. Joining Parker in the video are Mayor Ted Wheeler, new resident Freddy Dyer, and a full complement of public- and private-sector partners.
The Vera brings 203 affordable apartments to southwest Portland’s transit-oriented RiverPlace neighborhood. Ninety of the homes serve households earning 0% to 30% of the Median Family Income (up to approximately $27,000 per year for a family of four), including 70 with Project-based Section 8 vouchers and 10 for homeless veterans under the Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing program. The balance of apartments serve families earning up to 60% of MFI.
The Vera made sustainable design and construction practices a priority early on by pursuing the US Green Building Council’s LEED© for Homes Rating System. The Vera was designed, engineered and constructed with careful attention to its environmental impact, with a focus on reducing the use of energy and natural resources in the ongoing operation of the building.
The property was named in honor of the late Vera Katz, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and a three-term Mayor of Portland. Her son, Jesse Katz, also took part in the virtual ribbon-cutting.
Financing for The Vera was provided by the Portland Housing Bureau, Oregon Housing and Community Services, Prosper Portland, Home Forward, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Equity Fund, Inc., KeyBank Community Development Lending, Barings Multifamily Capital, and Meyer Memorial Trust. The architect was Ankrom Moisan Architects and the general contractor was Hoffman Construction.
For more information about BRIDGE, visit www.bridgehousing.com.
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