ROSE holds Winter Fete in Lents

Here’s why dozens of folks crowded into Zoiglhaus, shortly after the new year began …

After overcoming a weather delay, the ROSE CDC “Winter Mixer” gets underway at this outer East Portland establishment in Lents.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Rescheduled because of an earlier winter storm, on December 14 ROSE Community Development Corporation finally was able to hold its “Winter Mixer” during a break in the weather, on January 4 – In Lents, at the Zoiglhaus Brewing Company.

The event took over the southern half of the business, where guests mingled, noshed at a hot buffet, and bid on raffle items.

Helena Bai and Ana Meza serve themselves from the buffet.

“It’s a way for our supporters to get together tonight – we’re meeting with our friends, government, organization and business partners,” exclaimed ROSE Executive Director Nick Sauvie.

“Our Winter Mixer is also a fundraiser for our ‘Resident Loan Fund’ that helps people by providing a loan, should an emergency arise, to help them stay in their housing,” Sauvie told East Portland News.

With the New Copper Penny complex demolished, one of the four new projects in Lents Town Center — “Oliver’s Place” – will soon be under construction.

Sauvie pointed out that four major projects are underway in Lents Town Center, including “Oliver’s Place” – which will be constructed where the now-demolished “New Copper Penny” stood – built by Zoiglhaus major partner Chad Rennaker, Sauvie observed.

“At our project – a mixed-income apartment building on SE 91st Avenue at Reedway Street called ‘Woody Guthrie Place’ – we expect to begin construction in March,” said Sauvie.

This will add 68 housing units to the town center – 17 “affordable” units and 51 workforce housing units – with on-site parking.

ROSE CDC Executive Director Nick Sauvie smiles as he shares his enthusiasm for the organization’s new projects.

ROSE continues to work in the Jade District, preparing to construct a building featuring 48 units of “affordable” housing, that will also provide office space for the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, as well as a new “Jade/APANO Multicultural Space”, Sauvie added. “We know how to do ‘affordable housing’ and, with the bond measure that passed in November, we have new resources, and that provides lot of momentum.”

Participants look over raffle prizes at the Winter Mixer.

“We need to redouble our efforts at the local level, so people have a place to live in Portland,” Sauvie remarked. “This time of year, when you think about the cold winter weather that we’ve had, and people being homeless – yeah, it shows how important our work is.”

Find out more about ROSE CDC at their official website: CLICK HERE.

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