The Reopening of the Rose Apartments
After a year-long renovation, the women who call The Rose Apartments home are moving back to a newly renovated space. Originally constructed in 1910, REACH acquired and renovated the property in 1988. As the first permanent affordable housing for homeless women in Portland, the Rose continues to fill a critical need in the community.
The Rose is a three-story building with an outdoor courtyard and includes 57 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units and a single one-bedroom unit. Due to the building’s age, it was considered an unreinforced masonry (URM) building, considered extremely vulnerable to earthquake damage. Renovation work included a comprehensive seismic upgrade and rehabilitation, dramatically improving the safety of the building and preserving this community asset for another 100 years.
The redevelopment also allowed us to extend a 20-year contract for deep rent subsidy in partnership with Home Forward through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program. Residents will continue to pay just 30% of their income, so the Rose will remain deeply affordable for decades to come.
The project addressed the Rose’s capital needs, including critical safety concerns, disability upgrades, exterior and structural restoration, and replacement of most of the building’s systems. Livability improvements include the introduction of direct ducted fresh air and the use of healthy building materials. Commons spaces and offices were reconfigured, creating more space for community gathering and resident support services. The Rose, determined eligible for the National Register by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), will be formally listed with the preservation of the building.
Thank you to our development team at Jones Architecture and LMC Construction and funding partners at Oregon Housing and Community Services, US Bank, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Home Forward, Portland Housing Bureau, and PGE Renewable Development Fund.
Celebrate with us — Join REACH CEO, Dan Valliere, on a guided tour of the “new” Rose.
