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Native grasses peek up from planted areas in the interior courtyard at Wy’East Plaza, an affordable housing complex in east Portland. Nearby are community gardens, twin barbecue grills and a concrete pingpong table.

Residents filter in and out, chatting and walking their dogs.

The 12,425-square-foot courtyard landscape, designed by Shapiro Didway, represents a fraction of the $28.5 million cost of the 175-unit project, which was completed earlier this year for REACH CDC. Yet it serves to illustrate how landscape architecture is increasingly valued by designers and developers as a necessary amenity.

More than $800 million of voter-approved affordable housing projects are in some stage of development or construction in the Portland-metro area. As those projects advance, teams are paying more attention to landscape architecture.

The current generation of affordable housing comes amid greater recognition that access to nature and safe outdoor spaces can aid mental health, designers said.

鈥淚t really gives you the chance to restore,鈥� said Nate Otani, a Shapiro Didway principal.

On-site outdoor spaces are especially important for affordable housing developments because many residents don’t have cars, said Jennifer Simmons, portfolio manager for REACH CDC. Hence, accessing amenities such as public parks can be difficult. Landscaped space for residents 鈥渆nables them to be able to use those outdoor activities,鈥� Simmons said.

Now, projects funded by Metro‘s $652.8 million bond approved in 2018 are also becoming reality. The Housing Bureau is expected to soon announce the first wave of Portland projects funded by the Metro bond. Other municipalities, including Beaverton and Tigard, are already advancing bond-funded affordable housing developments.

In Cornelius, Shapiro Didway is designing the landscape for Plaza Los Amigos, a 113-unit project from REACH CDC that is expected to be completed in 2023. Metro bond revenue will cover about a third of the $39.2 million cost. Shapiro Didway’s design for the project includes a futsal court that can also function as a multiuse space.

Landscape is also central to the design for an affordable housing project under construction at 3000 S.E. Powell Blvd. The 206-unit building is the first ground-up construction project funded by Portland’s $258.4 million bond that voters approved in 2016.

Landscape plans include a contemplative garden at the front of the building to serve as a buffer to traffic noise on Powell, a sizable gathering area in a south courtyard, a basketball court aimed at teens and a garden for kids and adults.

鈥淚t’s crucial for the success of these buildings to have successful outdoor spaces and to connect with their landscape in a healing way,鈥� Holst Architecture principal Dave Otte said. Holst is working with landscape architect Ground Workshop on the Powell development.

Outdoor access aligns with two other rising trends: biophilic design and trauma-informed design 鈥� a consideration of vulnerable populations.

鈥淎 connection to nature is extremely important for folks who have experienced trauma,鈥� Otte said.

The Portland Design Commission has also paid more attention to landscape in recent years. Two members in particular 鈥� Brian McCarter, a landscape architect and principal at ZGF, and Zari Santner, a former parks director 鈥� have expanded the commission’s attention beyond buildings to their outdoor surroundings.

For Wy’East Plaza, at 12370 S.E. Ash St., the project team used a target value delivery process that brought Walsh Construction, Ankrom Moisan Architects and Shapiro Didway together early on.

鈥淚t was really successful,鈥� Shapiro Didway landscape architect Aaron West said.

The process reduced change orders, saving money. The project team then plowed the leftover money into outdoor amenities including the barbecue grills, a synthetic turf area and a rainwater capture system. The landscape and irrigation cost $165,000, before structures and amenities were purchased.

鈥淲e had so much extra money, we kind of took a look at the whole courtyard,鈥� West said.

Residents can tend to their own garden plots. Planters are made of wood salvaged from a previous project. Durable materials are used throughout.

鈥淲e’re trying to push sustainability, resiliency, community, equity,鈥� Otani said.