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Renovations to convert a former saloon in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown neighborhood into workforce housing are nearly complete.

Construction work on the Erickson Saloon building, at Northwest Second Avenue and West Burnside Street, is scheduled to wrap up in time for an unveiling party later this month, said Sarah Stevenson, executive director of Innovative Housing Inc. The nonprofit organization led a $15.9 million project to convert the Erickson building and the adjacent Fritz building into the 62-unit Erickson Fritz Apartments, which include a mix of affordable and market rate housing.

鈥淭he finishing touches are still going in,鈥� Stevenson said.

A renovation to create 19 apartments in the smaller Fritz building, which faces Northwest Third Avenue, has already been completed and it’s now fully occupied, she said. Most of the 43 units in the Erickson building are pre-leased and Innovative Housing is awaiting final approval from Portland building officials that will allow those tenants to move in. The entire complex should be completely leased up by the end of August, Stevenson said.

Innovative Housing will host a free public opening celebration on July 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the new apartments. The festivities will include food and drink provided by Old Town restaurants, craft beer and spirits, a photo booth and live music. In the complex’s two courtyards, attendees will have a chance to view newly installed art installations inspired by the history of the buildings and that use items found during the renovation project.

Silco Commercial Construction Inc. served as the project’s general contractor with Djoseland Construction Services subcontracted for supervision, framing, and finishing work. The Erickson Building remodel was designed by LRS Architects, while the Fritz was done by Orangewallstudios.

The Erickson’s Saloon or Erickson’s Workingman’s Club was a Portland landmark that opened in the 1880s. The saloon took up most of the block and was known for its 684-foot bar. When the Willamette River rose in 1894, Erickson’s set up a floating bar on a barge at Northwest Second and Burnside.