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A $53 million redevelopment effort has refreshed a formerly blighted public housing facility in Southwest Portland.

The 60-unit Hillsdale Terrace affordable housing complex at Southwest Capitol Highway and 26th Avenue was built in 1968. It had become significantly depressed because of many building defects over the years.

Home Forward in 2012 looked to rejuvenate the property, and landed an $18.5 million HOPE VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The complex, renamed Stephens Creek Crossing, now features 122 apartments, two community gardens, playgrounds, and an “opportunity center” with meeting, classroom and kitchen space for educational purposes.

Once plagued by moisture problems, the entire property now manages 100 percent of its stormwater on-site, and features other modern sustainable features.

According to Home Forward, approximately one-third of the 49 previous Hillsdale Terrace households have returned to the property. Other incoming residents will come from a waiting list of nearly 3,000 households.

The redevelopment team, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, also created seven single-family homes for first-time homebuyers. They are near a children’s center at the corner of Southwest Capitol Highway and 26th Avenue.

The project’s general contractor was R&H Colas – a joint partnership between R&H Construction and Colas Construction; the architect was MWA Architects.