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Council approves Meadowlark Place, a 104‑unit senior project that includes Head Start
Summary
The Housing Stability Council approved Meadowlark Place, a 104‑unit senior affordable housing project that incorporates a Head Start center. Council members asked staff for follow‑up on lessons from prior co‑located projects and noted the separate funding for Head Start operations.
The Housing Stability Council voted to approve Meadowlark Place, a 104‑unit senior affordable housing project that includes an on‑site Head Start center. Acting Chair Mary Farrell presided as staff presented the project’s financing stack and partnerships.
Ty Dunson Strain, AD of production, summarized the proposal and funding history, saying the residential portion is roughly $6,565,000,000 with the overall total including Head Start at over $7,070,000,000 and noting prior awards from LIFT and PSA. He also highlighted partnerships with tribal and community organizations and contractor commitments to MWS participation. "This project...includes a 100 hundred and 4 units and a range of AMI levels," he said, and staff asked the council to consider the motion.
Council members welcomed the proposal but raised operational concerns rooted in past experience. Council member Meehan said he supports colocation in principle but urged staff to examine a Rockwood project that he described as having failed operationally and displaced Head Start participants: "That building on 181st was a train wreck...the Head Start kiddos from the Mount Hood Head Start program were displaced," Meehan said and asked staff to bring back lessons learned and contingency planning.
Staff said the Head Start center is funded separately from the housing operations and that the state investment does not subsidize Head Start operations. Natasha Detweiler Davie told the council, "financially, the Head Start is funded separately," and invited follow‑up to explore operational fixes and best practices from other multigenerational models.
Council member Meehan moved to approve the recommendation; Acting Chair Farrell seconded. Roll call recorded five yes votes and one abstention (Council member Mena), and the motion passed.
The council directed staff to follow up on operational lessons from past colocations and to report back on any recommended contingency or oversight steps. The project will proceed to closing and construction steps per staff timeline.
