APANO/Jade Project’s design emerges

Discover how the corner of SE 82nd Avenue of Roses at Division Street will be transformed into a mixed-use development – and also when …

Community members gather in outer East Portland the Jade/APANO Multicultural Space to learn more about the mixed-use development planned for the site.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

After sitting empty for years, a defunct furniture store on Division Street, located just south of Portland Community College Southeast Campus was turned into community center two years ago.

Back then, at a gathering in May of 2015, two groups – the Asian Pacific Network of Oregon (APANO), and Jade District Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative (Jade) – announced plans for the building at the well-traveled intersection.

Since then, what’s been called the Jade/APANO Multicultural Space has hosted numerous community events, some as part of their annual summertime Night Market.

In April, 2016, plans were revealed to move forward with redeveloping the site.

> To read “Apartment building to replace empty Division Street store”, CLICK HERE.

Talking with community members about the project is ROSE Executive Director Nick Sauvie.

“Actually, this will be a mixed-use development,” said Executive Director Nick Sauvie, who heads up the nonprofit site developer, ROSE Community Development Corporation (ROSE). He spoke with us at a meeting held in the space on the evening of March 7.

“We’ve held a couple community workshops about this project, where we’ve shown some very preliminary designs for what will be 48 units of affordable housing – as well as APANO offices, and a multicultural community center,” Sauvie told East Portland News.

“In the meantime, we have been developing financing for the full project, and we’ve been refining the designs,” Sauvie said. “Tonight is an opportunity to show the community where we are, and take input on the design.”

The plan, Sauvie remarked, is to hold another charette in May or June to vet the final design – and from there, to set about getting building permits.

Leading a discussion of the new mixed-use development plan is Gauri Rajbaidya from SERA Architects.

It’s an approximately $16 million project, Sauvie observed. “We have a commitment from the State of Oregon for grants and tax credits; we’ve got a proposed commitment from Metro, and they’re also contributing financing; and the last piece would be financing from the City of Portland, and we’re at the stage of putting in an application to the city – and the indications are good that they will provide funding.”

Answering questions about the project is APANO Executive Director Reverend Joseph Santos-Lyons.

Enthusiastic about the project was APANO Executive Director Reverend Joseph Santos-Lyons, who pointed out that the area, once considered the eastern boundary of the City of Portland, is now in the center of town.

“Here in the confluence of the diverse communities, and transit oriented development, and with Portland Community College across the street – and the housing crisis – we’ll be able to build a highly visible landmark in a space where we’ve already been engaging thousands of neighbors and community members every month for the last two years,” Santos-Lyons said.

“In addition to being the home for APANO, the space will energize the tenants themselves, as neighbors have already been making this a de facto community center, a hub for the neighborhood.”

Here’s an architectural drawing of the proposed new mixed-use development planned for the corner of SE Division Street and 82^nd Avenue of Roses.

“We are able to provide a range of services to be able to connect folks in the neighborhood with issues that are directly affecting them – including issues like transportation, pedestrian safety, parks, and green spaces,” Santos-Lyons remarked. “And also, young people are using the space as a place where they can develop their leadership skills, staff the streets, and be able to make a positive contribution, here in Portland.”

These community members learn more about the project from planners and developers.

Shortly after this meeting, APANO announced an “Honorary Capital Campaign Committee” of 27 elected officials, and business and cultural leaders, who signed on to support the $2.0 million dollar “Roots to Rise” fundraising campaign. To learn more about this committee, CLICK HERE.

If all goes according to plan, they may be breaking ground this November, leading to the facility and apartments’ expected opening in September of 2019.

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