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Developer Vibrant Cities is focused on delivering housing units not only in ideal places, but also with reasonable rents. Currently, the Portland market is offering such opportunities for the Seattle-based company, which originated when SolTerra split into two entities.

In 2016, construction of Brooklyn Yard (developed by SolTerra) 鈥� a four-story building with 46 apartments 鈥� wrapped up at 4780 S.E. Milwaukie Ave. Currently, the firm’s Zeal Lofts 鈥� a six-story building with 216 micro-studios 鈥� and the Fargo 鈥� a six-story building with 100 apartments 鈥� are being developed in North Portland; both, like Brooklyn Yard, will have ground-floor retail space.

Another project is moving ahead: Ascend, a five-story building with 96 micro-apartments and retail space on Northeast Failing Street, between Williams and Vancouver avenues. Recently, people representing project team members Vibrant Cities, Seattle design firm Jackson | Main Architecture and general contractor Seabold Construction gathered at the Ascend job site for food, drinks and a low-key ground-breaking ceremony.

鈥淭he inspiration is making affordable homes in great locations, right?鈥� Vibrant Cities CEO James Wong said. 鈥淎nd whereas there are a lot of millennials and young urban workers who want to live in the city, and it’s really hard for them to afford it, they can always afford to live in smaller spaces. But they get to be in the location that they want, so that’s key for us right there.鈥�

Ascend will feature four wood-framed stories above a ground floor featuring a lounge for tenants as well as retail space, and a below-grade parking garage.

鈥淭his is group living; it’s not apartments,鈥� said Robin Murphy, a Jackson | Main Architecture owner and principal.

In the group living model for Ascend, Murphy added, sleeping units will be arranged into 16 clusters. Each six-unit cluster will share a kitchenette that includes a three-quarter refrigerator, food storage, a two-burner cooktop and a sink. The sleeping units will range from 250 to 350 square feet.

Five micro-restaurant spaces will be built into the storefront facing Vancouver Avenue. They’re intended to complement the existing neighborhood.

鈥淭he intention is Vibrant Cities can just lease those spaces and (tenants) can operate immediately as opposed to going through the permit process,鈥� Murphy said. 鈥淭hat’s an amenity everyone appreciates, and not just for the tenants, but for the whole neighborhood.鈥�

Completion of Ascend is scheduled for spring 2020. Commercial Realty Advisors is handling commercial leasing arrangements.

Vibrant Cities also is working with Mississippi-based Sunray Hotels to develop a 23-story mixed-use tower in the Pearl District. The project team’s proposal calls for a 250-foot-tall building accommodating hotel and residential uses.