To tackle the housing shortage in Portland, Governor Tina Kotek, alongside Mayor Keith Wilson, has unveiled a series of measures aimed at boosting the construction of multifamily housing units in the city. Acknowledging the recommendations of the Multifamily Housing Development Workgroup, the duo expressed a collaborative commitment to an affordable and sustainable home market for all Portland citizens. "I believe in a vision for Oregon and for Portland where everyone can afford a home," Governor Kotek told attendees at the announcement.
Running to streamline the permitting process, Governor Kotek has pledged state resources to ramp up Portland's ability to issue construction permits more swiftly, which aims to lower the cost of building. The plan includes the Building Codes Division providing staff support and an agreement to share resources to keep the wheels of development greased, a Building Evaluation Support Agreement. Mayor Wilson joined this course by relaunching the Self-Certification Program and introducing a Third-Party Plan Review, both designed to slash permit approval times for builders. In the wake of these initiatives, positioned to make Portland's streets lined with more homes, the Mayor exclaimed, "Portland is open for business — for housing, for opportunity, and for a thriving future."
An intriguing element of their strategy is the focus on converting underused office buildings into residential spaces, a move that captures the evolving landscape of urban work and living. This office-to-housing pivot is getting an injection of support from Business Oregon, which, with BCD, will establish a rapid approval assessment team ensuring a smoother transition from corporate to domestic realms. The city isn't holding back either, prepping a $15 million Notice of Funding Opportunity, primed to transform Central City's mid-century office monoliths into modern dwellings.
In conjunction with the housing initiatives, Governor Kotek has committed to uniting Portland's economic organizations for a comprehensive six-month development strategy. Hoping to retain and attract businesses to the city's landscape, hewn with trees and industry alike, this strategy seeks to complement already existing plans, like Prosper Portland's Advance Portland, by outlining actions for the short, medium, and long terms. Furthermore, the Governor is looking to adapt California's Builder's Remedy policy to Oregon, a tactic to expedite construction when local governments lag in meeting housing production targets.
Both the Governor and Mayor have also dedicated themselves to the construction of 5,000 multifamily housing units over the next three years, a gesture of commitment that includes waiving System Development Charges as an incentive. This pledge aligns with their intention to review further recommendations from the workgroup, which suggests an ongoing dialogue with investors and developers to enrich Portland with accessible, affordable housing options, a crucial step to sustaining the city's cultural and economic vibrancy.
