Workgroup will identify barriers and problem solve to increase multifamily housing construction in the city

On March 6th, Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson kicked off the first meeting of their Multifamily Housing Development Workgroup, convened to explore potential actions Oregon and Portland can take to move more multifamily housing projects forward in the City of Portland.

“Too many Oregonians are worried about making ends meet, and the cost of housing is front and center,” Governor Kotek said. “We must cut the bureaucratic backlog, build more housing, and lower the cost of living. More housing is the long-term solution to our homelessness crisis. The Mayor shares my urgency, as do the leaders we have brought together to contribute to this effort.”

"I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Governor Kotek and our dedicated partners on this critical issue," said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. "Creating more multifamily housing is essential to addressing the pressing needs of Portlanders and ensuring our city's growth benefits all residents."

The group will develop options for consideration by the Governor and the City of Portland for state or local action that will address current barriers keeping multifamily housing projects from being feasible for construction.

Workgroup members and attendees included:

• Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney
• Portland City Council Homelessness and Housing Committee Chair Candace Avalos
• Portland City Council Homelessness and Housing Committee Vice Chair Jamie Dunphy
• Joel Madsen, Housing Accountability and Production Office, State of Oregon
• Palmer Mason, Housing Accountability and Production Office, State of Oregon
• Todd Smith, Housing Accountability and Production Office, State of Oregon
• Donnie Oliveira, Portland Deputy City Administrator
• Eric Engstrom, Portland Planning and Sustainability Bureau
• Helmi Hisserich, Portland Housing Bureau
• Lisa Abauf, Prosper Portland
• Sam Chase, Government Relations, City of Portland
• Amy Ruiz, Oregon Smart Growth
• Anselm Fusco, Holland Partner Group
• Chris Duffin, LMC Construction
• Cassidy Bolger, Killian Pacific
• Doug Burges, Greystar
• Ernesto Fonseca, Hacienda CDC
• Mark Madden, WDC Properties
• Sarah Zahn, Security Properties
• Tom Cody, Project PDX
• Tom Kilbane, Urban Renaissance Group

In the first meeting of the workgroup, members shared their perspectives on the state of the multifamily housing market and discussed continuing efforts by the City of Portland and Oregon to increase housing production, projects that face significant challenges, and opportunities for further action.

This partnership with the City of Portland is part of the Governor’s ongoing work to break down barriers to housing affordability, including her effort to legalize middle housing in more places (HB 2138), the creation of the Governor’s Housing Infrastructure Production Fund (HB 3031), and a recommended budget of $1.06 billion to build on the state’s progress and increase Oregon’s housing supply in every part of the state.

Since the Governor’s first day in office, she has been focused on solutions to create a healthy, affordable housing market. As a result, the Housing Accountability and Production Office(HAPO) and a moderate-income revolving loan (MIRL) fund to support cities and counties in developing more housing have already been established. By July, the state estimates that 2,800 affordable housing units will be financed, and over the next two years, needed infrastructure to support over 25,000 affordable and market rate housing units will be in construction.