The Opal Apartments

1035 NW Saltzman Road, Portland, Oregon 97229

Built to give homes to LGBTQ Seniors in Washington County, Oregon, this 54 unit affordable housing project is scheduled for completion in 2023. We're thankful for our partners Christ United Methodist Church for the opportunity to bring more affordable housing to our neighbors in the Northwest.

27th Avenue Apartments Rendering
who benefits
LGBTQ Seniors
Development partners
Christ United Methodist Church
Number of Units
53
Parking Spaces
19
sF Community Space
2,300+
Affordability Limits
0 - 60%
Partners
METRO
Finance Partner
Community Partner
Beneficial State Bank
Finance Partner
Community Partner
Red Stone Equity Partners
Finance Partner
Community Partner
Washington County
Finance Partner
Community Partner

Description of Project

The Saltzman Road Senior Apartments is a proud partnership between project sponsor Christ United Methodist Church (CUMC), non-profit social service agency Friendly House, and Home First Development.

This development will provide 53 units of quality affordable housing and expansive community space for vulnerable populations in Washington County, with 27 two-bedroom apartments and 26 one-bedroom apartments dedicated to low and very-low income individuals, couples, and co-habitant seniors. As an underserved, vulnerable population, LGBT residents will be prioritized and served through informed resident services, ample community space, and through an ideallocation that will provide a safe, welcoming and positive environment to residents for years to come.

The development envisions a four-story, garden-style building with an elevator, a combination of brick and Hardi-style fiber cement lap siding exterior, and pitched roofs. The site plan includes anexpansive (2,300+ SF) service delivery space spread across three rooms on the ground floor. The floor area ratio of this project is expected to be 1.33 and the building will reach a height of 45 feet.

The project design includes a community garden, barbeque/picnic area, private meeting space for confidential 1-1 service delivery, and complimentary building-wide Wi-Fi. The project includes 19 parking spaces and a dedicated area for pick-up and drop-off near the building entrance. The site and floor plans have developed through months of planning and consultation with ChristUnited Methodist Church parishioners and leadership, Home First Development, Washington County planning officials, project architect Doug Circosta, and services provider Friendly House/SAGE to ensure a thoughtful, useful space for future residents. SAGE, is a program run by non-profit Friendly House that provides case management and outreach services to LGBT seniors throughout Multnomah County since 2012.


Apartment units feature luxury vinyl plank flooring, quartz countertops, quartz window sills, low-flow plumbing fixtures, LED lighting for reduced utility bills, and other high-quality amenities. We envision that the final product will be indistinguish able from a market-rate development if not superior in terms of durability, aesthetics, and green building standards.

The project meets or exceeds several of Washington County’s Local Implementation Strategy (LIS) Framework goals including:

  • Exceeding goals for the number of units dedicated to 0-30% MFI residents (30% goal, 49%proposed).
  • Exceeding goals number of family size units (50% goal, 51% proposed).
  • A prime location that comports with the goals outlined in the LIS by providing residents with a highly walkable neighborhood (Walk Score 87) that is near grocery stores, public transportation, restaurants, shopping centers, parks, and schools.
  • MWESB contracting goals (20% goal, 25%+ proposed)

Who is Being Supported

The Saltzman Road Senior Apartments will serve a historically underserved population by providing quality housing and services to low and very-low income LGBT seniors in Washington County.

The project is 100% affordable housing, with half of the building units dedicated to residents earning 60% AMI and half of the building units dedicated to residents earning 0-30% AMI. We are requesting eight property-based vouchers.

A lease-up plan will be developed and implemented by the selected property management agency, in close consultation with Friendly House/SAGE, Christ United Methodist Church, and Home First Development. A low-barrier screening plan will be developed and implemented by property management (see attached draft lease-up plan). Outreach for lease up will be performed by property management and with support from SAGE, a Friendly House program that has been providing case management and outreach services to LGBT seniors throughout Multnomah County since 2012.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Home First Development Vision

Access to safe affordable homes for every person in the Northwest.