(July 29, 2015) – Close to 80 people gathered in Northeast Portland yesterday afternoon to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Miracles Central Apartment building at 1306 NE 2nd Avenue. The collaboration between the Portland Housing Bureau, Central City Concern, and the Miracles Club will provide affordable housing combined with services for adults who wish to live in an alcohol and drug-free building. The model is based on the Miracles Club Apartments, a similar building on NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, specializing in culturally competent recovery support for the African American community.
“The stability that comes with an affordable home is key for people who are committed to recovery and who are working toward a new start,” said Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who oversees the Portland Housing Bureau. “This project helps us bring affordable housing and critical services back into this community. The City is proud to offer its partnership and support.”
Michael Booker, Interim Executive Director of The Miracles Club said, “With this building, somebody will get a chance to get their first apartment, get a chance to stand on their own two feet, do their recovery and be accountable.”
Ed Blackburn, Executive Director of Central City Concern, recalled the organic history between Central City Concern and The Miracles Club over the past 20 years with many shared clients and staff. “This building is the next level of our partnership and we couldn’t be more thrilled to break ground this afternoon.”
With an expected completion date of July 2016, the Miracles Central Apartments will consist of 47 units of affordable housing, including 28 apartments affordable to lower-income households earning up to 50% of the area median income ($25,750 for an individual). Central City Concern and Miracles Club will use the building’s ground floor for program-related services, including meetings and counseling. On-site staff will help tenants with life-skills, employment readiness, and eviction prevention, and work closely with tenants to develop action plans that may include steps like workforce development or education.
The Portland Housing Bureau dedicated $7.1 million in capital funding toward plus the land. Other major funders include Oregon Housing & Community Services, National Equity Fund and JP Morgan Chase. Also contributing to the project are Banner Bank, The Collins Foundation, Downtown Development Group, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Legacy Health Systems, Mitzvah Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Providence Health & Services, UnitedHealthcare, and USI Northwest.
Multicultural Development Group is the project developer with Guardian Real Estate Services LLC leading the project, Carleton Hart Architecture is the lead architect and LMC Construction is the general contractor.
