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The Native American Youth and Family Center has completed Tistilal Village, a 58-unit affordable housing development in North Portland鈥檚 Portsmouth neighborhood that re-placed an aging 34-unit apartment complex on a 0.96-acre site at 7651 N. Hereford Ave.

The project, completed in December 2025, was built by Colas Construction, a Black-owned general contractor, and designed by Carleton Hart Architecture. Tistilal Village began with a culturally specific Ground Blessing ceremony, setting a foundation rooted in respect, healing and Native tradition. The development includes studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments totaling 61,300 square feet. Sixteen units are designated as Permanent Supportive Housing for families experiencing homelessness, with resident ser-vices provided by the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest.

The Quileute word Tistilal, meaning Thunderbird, honors the land鈥檚 history and reinforces belonging and cultural continuity for residents. The project carries forward Indigenous identity through a longhouse-inspired community volume, Native-created artwork throughout the building, and culturally grounded design.

Trauma-informed design centered on families鈥� needs emphasizes durable materials, enhanced sound buffering between units, and a culturally inspired color palette. Outdoor spaces feature native and medicinal plantings alongside a children鈥檚 play area.

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were delivered through a design-build approach. The building includes two elevators and high-efficiency air conditioning in all units, with fully ducted systems extending to bedrooms in larger units 鈥� an uncommon feature in affordable housing. The project is designed to achieve Energy Star Platinum-level perfor-mance through solar panels, regionally sourced lumber, low-toxicity interior finishes, and energy-efficient Earth Advantage-rated appliances.

During construction, the team navigated an unexpected disruption affecting a portion of the building. Colas Construction, NAYA, architects, and key subcontractors responded collaboratively to maintain schedule and deliver the project on time.

Safety was reinforced through weekly toolbox talks, hands-on field coaching by Colas鈥檚 safety manager, and regular coordination meetings with trade partners to identify and address hazards in advance.

Equity-centered contracting was a stated objective. Thirty-eight percent of total contracting dollars were awarded to COBID-certified firms, exceeding the project鈥檚 20 percent participation goal, with an emphasis on minority- and women-owned businesses.

Thirteen households from the former 34-unit complex returned to the completed development following construction.

鈥淥ur enthusiasm to partner with NAYA on such an important project for the Native and BI-POC communities is layered with pride and purpose to serve,鈥� noted Andrew Colas, president and CEO of Colas Construction, in the Top Projects submission form. 鈥淲e are honored to see this shared vision realized and proud to deliver another quality project to our community.鈥�