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A 22-unit affordable housing development in Portland鈥檚 historic Albina neighborhood has delivered dignified housing for underserved residents while showcasing an innovative construction model intended to be replicated across the city.
The Joice A. Taylor Apartments, located at 32 N.E. Fremont St., was developed through a partnership between Owen Gabbert LLC and the Urban League of Portland. The four-story, 14,340-square-foot building includes 15 studio apartments, four two-bedroom units and three three-bedroom units, offering housing for both individuals and families.
The development was specifically designed to expand housing access for Portland鈥檚 Black community in North Portland, a population disproportionately affected by displacement and rising housing costs. The Urban League of Portland provides ongoing tenant outreach and resident support services to maintain the building as a community-centered resource.
A key construction innovation was the use of cross-laminated timber panels for horizontal structural components. Prefabricated CLT panels arrived on site ready for installation, minimizing waste and improving precision. The lighter weight of the mass timber system compared to conventional concrete or steel supported efficiency on the project鈥檚 constrained urban site, which measured just 137 feet deep and 47 feet wide. CLT products store carbon and require less energy to manufacture than many conventional building materials, reducing the building鈥檚 environmental footprint while supporting regional timber economies.
The CLT approach enhanced jobsite safety. Prefabricated panels reduced on-site framing duration and worker exposure to jobsite hazards, while crane-assisted installation minimized prolonged elevated work. Intensive preconstruction coordination reduced rework and unsafe field modifications.
The project employed a standardized 鈥渒it of parts鈥� design strategy developed by Shortstack Housing and WORKS Architecture, utilizing repeatable floor plans and building components adaptable to various urban infill sites. The system is intended to reduce design timelines, engineering costs and construction complexity for future affordable housing developments.
The project established a 30 percent minority, women, emerging small business participation goal. The team achieved 27 percent MWESB participation after one subcontractor went out of business during construction.
The development is named in honor of Joice A. Taylor, who showed an unwavering commitment to equity and the empowerment of Black lives in Portland. She was the CEO of Global Management Strategies Inc., president of the North/Northeast Business Association, and community service director for the Albina Community Development Corp.
鈥淛oice鈥檚 legacy lives on through every family housed, every life uplifted, and every voice heard within these walls,鈥� the Urban League of Portland said in the project submission form. 鈥淭he Urban League of Portland is honored to carry her vision forward 鈥� building not just homes, but hope.鈥�