Council approves $7 million HUD grant for new affordable housing, $125,000 healthy-homes grant and accepts parks levy report; approves council budget adjustment

Portland City Council adopted several budget and grant measures during its Jan. 15 meeting and accepted the parks-levy annual report, while also approving a disputed budget adjustment for council office operations.

Barber Apartments: HUD community project funding and CDBG

The council voted to appropriate $7,000,000 in federal funds administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support development of the Barber Apartments, a 100% permanently affordable rental project in Southwest Portland. City staff said the project will deliver 149 units, including 82 two-bedroom units, 16 three-bedroom units and four four-bedroom units; 21% of units will be affordable to households at or below 30% of area median income, and the development will use 38 project-based vouchers from Home Forward. Developer Innovative Housing Inc. will enter into a regulatory agreement to maintain affordability for 99 years. The council approved the appropriation during the meeting.

Oregon Healthy Homes grant

Council also accepted and appropriated a $125,000 award from the Oregon Health Authority for the 2024 State Healthy Homes Grant.…