Recent Successes for the Effort to Rebuild Portland’s Historic Black Community
The Albina neighborhood was a thriving area of North and Northeast Portland that was home to many Black-owned businesses and Black families. It was the heart of the Portland-area’s Black community. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, thousands of residents were displaced and many businesses were forced to close as land was taken for various development projects, including Memorial Coliseum, I-5, the Legacy Emanuel Hospital expansion, and more. It destroyed the vibrant community.
For years, various community leaders and activists have fought to restore this important part of Portland by creating housing and business opportunities for former residents and their families to be able to return to the area. The Albina Vision Trust (AVT), a non-profit that advocates for restoring the neighborhood, has led the way in raising money and fighting to rebuild. They’ve teamed up with various other community leaders and groups, and the push for restoring this special place has gained a lot of momentum.
Below is an overview of some of the exciting recent developments.
April 24, 2023 : Phil and Penny Knight give $400 million to the 1803 Fund, a new initiative to fund education, arts, and more in the former Albina neighborhood
Read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting
October 13, 2023 : AVT secures $13.4 million from Metro’s Affordable Housing Bond to build 94 units of housing
Read more from the Portland Housing Bureau
February 20, 2024 : AVT reaches agreement with Portland Public Schools to buy PPS headquarters for the Trust to redevelop
Read more from The Oregonian
March 1, 2024 : Oregon Senate approves $25 million for AVT to buy and redevelop the PPS property
Read more from Hoodline
March 5, 2024 : Plans were announced for over 100 affordable homes and a Black-business incubator to be built in North Portland
Read more on our blog
March 16, 2024 : AVT helps ODOT win $450 million in federal funds to place caps over I-5 to create buildable land and re-unite the neighborhood
Read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting
March 19, 2024 : AVT takes leading role in guiding the use of the $450 million in federal funds
Read more from Bike Portland
