Breaking Ground at Elmonica Station: A Win for Affordable Housing
BEAVERTON, OR – Affordable housing developers REACH Community Development (REACH) and Mercy Housing Northwest gathered in Beaverton with partners and community leaders on Fri., Jan. 31, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Elmonica Station development, a new 81-unit affordable rental housing community at the corner of Baseline Road and SW 170th Ave. near the Elmonica MAX lightrail station in Beaverton. The new community is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2026.
“People talk with me about the need for more affordable housing in Beaverton and every corner of NW Oregon,” said U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), who spoke at the groundbreaking celebration. “Elmonica Station is a great example of how local governments and developers can work together to build housing that addresses the needs of the community, particularly for low-income families and workers who are most burdened by the persistent housing shortage. I look forward to visiting the completed Elmonica Station and will continue to work with partners at the local and state level to address the affordable housing crisis.”
Elmonica Station will provide deeply affordable housing for Beaverton and the surrounding region, supporting families with low and extremely low incomes, at 60% area median income (AMI) and 30% AMI. The community, which will be managed by Mercy Housing Northwest, will include a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Designed and created through community input, on-site amenities will include community rooms, outdoor play and gardening spaces, laundry rooms on all residential floors, a food pantry, and in-unit mini-split air conditioning. On-site resident services will be provided by Bienestar, a Latinx affordable housing developer and resident services provider with deep roots in Washington County.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents years of collaborative effort to provide affordable housing for those who need it most,” said Margaret Salazar, CEO of REACH Community Development. “Elmonica Station will be a beacon of opportunity and stability for families in Beaverton. We’re grateful to our partners and the community for making this vision a reality.”
The $51.8 million project is being funded through a mix of public and private funding, including a 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit from the U.S. Treasury and Oregon Housing and Community Services, Metro’s Affordable Housing Bond, Washington County’s Housing Opportunity Production Fund and HOME funds, including eight project-based vouchers that will provide residents with extremely low incomes, some of whom are transitioning from homelessness. The City of Beaverton also contributed funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal economic stimulus program.
“Mercy Housing Northwest prides itself on developing strong partnerships. As we continue to expand into the Oregon market, we look to well-established and committed organizations like REACH Community Development,” said Joe Thompson, President of Mercy Housing Northwest. “We find ourselves humbled by the wonderful neighbors, community members, organizations, and officials from all levels of government who have rallied around this community and are helping bring it to life.”
The neighborhood includes nearby schools, parks, commercial services, and employment opportunities. The energy-efficient building is designed to achieve Earth Advantage Gold certification and will include a rooftop solar array to offset house energy usage. The Elmonica Station project is also funded by Metro’s Transit Oriented Development grant, to provide affordable and convenient transportation choices for residents.
“With culturally responsive services and opportunities for social connection built in, this property will offer residents a path to stability and community,” Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González said. “Thanks to voters, the Metro affordable housing bond is bringing more than 5,100 affordable, transit-friendly homes in intentional communities like this to our region.”
Other funders include Oregon Housing & Community Services, the City of Beaverton, Energy Trust of Oregon and Citibank. The construction partner for the project is Colas Construction, with architectural design provided by Salazar Architect.
“Today’s groundbreaking of the Elmonica Station is yet another important step toward addressing the urgent need for affordable housing in our region,” said Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington. “This development will provide stability and opportunity to families who need it most, ensuring rents remain truly accessible for our residents.”
Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty emphasized the importance of affordable housing for the community: “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. Too many people in our community work hard every day but still struggle to keep a roof over their heads. That’s why projects like this are so important—they’re part of the solution. I’m incredibly proud of the work the city has done with Metro and REACH to make this development happen and to help ensure more Beaverton families can afford to stay in the community they love.”
