‘72Foster’ celebrates grand opening

See the festivities as this housing project officially opens along SE Foster Road …

Many people come to witness the grand opening of the “72Foster” – providing “home for 101 families – a in the Foster-Powell neighborhood.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Foster-Powell neighbors, and others who have just driven past the construction at the corner of SE 72^nd Avenue and Foster Road – just west of the Portland Mercado — have wondered what was being built there. On April 29 they had the opportunity find out on grand opening day.

The building, called “72Foster”, is an intergenerational mixed-use building, serving seniors as well as families. It offers 101 apartment units, and soon, a pizza parlor.

Reach CDC CEO Dan Valliere says the “72Foster” housing project provides much-needed, low-income housing in the area.

“This day is important to ‘Reach Community Development Corporation’, because this project – 72Foster – has been the dream for our organization for some time,” smiled its CEO, Dan Valliere. “72Foster provides what we need more of, every day: New affordable housing!”

Home Forward Chief Operating Officer Ian Davie says he’s happy to be part of the grand opening of “this great new center.”

In addition to “affordable housing”, Home Forward (formerly known as Housing Authority of Portland) has provided twenty apartments at 72Foster with Project-Based Section 8 vouchers – with which residents will only pay 30% of their income in rent, a service to those with extremely low-incomes.

“And, we’re especially grateful to our partner, Asian Health and Service Center, which, in addition to providing on-site services to residents, has shared our vision for transforming a parking lot into this new community,” Valliere told East Portland News.

Here to welcome the opening of “72Foster” is Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association communications volunteer Sean McClintock.

Also present at the opening of the $24 million project were representatives of the Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association, including its communications volunteer Sean McClintock, who said that while the association board hasn’t taken a position on the development, “I think of you’d ask anyone on the board, or any neighbor, they’d say this project is is very welcome.

After a scissors snip, the dedication ribbon goes flying and confetti showers the courtyard at the “72Foster” housing project in the Foster-Powell neighborhood.

“We’re already a diverse community; so, gaining more housing to support our neighbors who are getting displaced by increasing housing costs in the area makes it a positive project,” McClintock commended.

To learn more about “72Foster”, see their official webpage: CLICK HERE.

Members of the “Portland Kun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Dance” team make lucky Chinese lions leap for the crowd.

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