PORTLAND, Ore. — The grand opening of a new apartment building in Albina marks a pivotal step in the restoration of Portland’s historically Black neighborhood.

A block party was held Saturday to celebrate the occasion, as these apartments come with a purpose beyond just housing — giving displaced families and their descendants a pathway back to Albina.

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Back in the 1960s, the construction of Interstate 5 and the Memorial Coliseum displaced Albina residents, including Albina Vision Trust board member Sharon Gary-Smith, who grew up on Benton Avenue just two blocks from the new ‘Albina One’ building.

“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 said.

Now, more than 60 years later, Albina One is a way for those forced to leave to return.

“This is evidence of what you can do when you dream big and you gather people and you don’t let go,” Gary-Smith said.  

The 94-unit complex offers 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments, all designated as affordable housing.

“We’re able to rent all of the units at or around about 48% AMI (Area Median Income) or below to make them even more accessible,” Albina Vision Trust Real Estate Vice President Micha Greenberg said.

One-bedrooms, for example, go from anywhere between $676 to $1,062.

Most of the apartments will be leased through Portland’s North/Northeast preference policy in order to ensure the apartments can go to those 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.”

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And with a nearly $2 million grant for the Portland Clean Energy Fund, Albina One is fully electric.

“This is literally a showcase for how you can build creatively, efficiently, effectively for the long haul,” Gary-Smith said.