Rosemont Commons is an affordable housing infill project on a 7.68 acre site in north Portland. Formerly the site of a Catholic convent and girls school, the neighborhood landmark 1916 Convent building was designated an Historic Landmark and then completely renovated and expanded for 100 units of elderly housing. Other buildings on the Rosemont site were deconstructed and the site was replatted and redeveloped with 18 rental townhouse apartments and 47 units of "for sale" family housing, including single-family, paired attached houses, and rowhouses. The final piece of Rosemont's redevelopment will be a HeadStart center for pre-school children.
A blend of public and private financing helped achieve goals for affordability. Public participation in site preparation and development of the new streets and utilities were key to helping keep initial site development costs down. Habitat for Humanity built 10 new houses for families earning 40-60% of Median Family Income (MFI). Another Portland-based non-profit housing developer, H.O.S.T., built 7 houses for families earning 60-80% of MFI. The remainder of the "for sale" family homes were developed by Tom Walsh & Co. Construction of the 18 family townhouse apartments was partly financed with Low Income Housing Tax Credits; and historic tax credits partially funded the renovation of the Convent building for elderly apartments. Long term affordability will be attained through Portland Community Land Trust ownership of the land under 135 of the housing units.
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MASTER SITE PLAN The 1916 convent (C) and new elderly housing (E) are connected into one building, now known as "Rosemont Court." The buildings shown with brown roofs are all new single-family homes (owner-occupied). |
Master Site Plan Principles. . .
Principles of Green Design and Sustainable Development are incorporated
into the Rosemont Commons project:
- The project is infill development in an urbanized area at an
overall density of 23.5 units/acre.
- The project supports a diversity of housing types and income
levels.
- The design reinforces the existing neighborhood housing patterns.
- Existing buildings to be removed were "deconstructed"
for maximum salvage of usable building materials.
- Salvage materials for reuse on the site include T&G flooring,
bricks and framing lumber, and masonry/concrete rubble for structural
fill aggregate.
- Significant existing trees were retained in the site layout.
- Stormwater is treated and disposed on site.
- Planning was made for "Carsharing" vehicles at the
site.
For more information about the design principles and housing at Rosemont Commons, click on one of the pictures below.
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Conservation  CLICK HERE |
 CLICK HERE |
Town Homes 
CLICK HERE |
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Single-Family Homes  CLICK
HERE |
Sustainable Design  CLICK
HERE |
 CLICK HERE |
Project Developer: Rosemont Community Developers, LLC
(including Tom Walsh & Co., Northwest Housing Alternatives
Inc., and Geller Silvis & Associates)
Rosemont Master Plan: Andrews Architects, Inc.
Master Plan Design Consultants:
- Civil engineer: Harper Houf Righellis, Inc.
- Landscape Architect: Mayer-Reed, Inc.
Architect for Rosemont Town Homes: Andrews Architects,
Inc.
Architect for Rosemont Court (elderly housing): Ankrom Moisan
Assoc. Architects
Architect for Habitat for Humanity houses: JDA Architects
& Planners
Architect for H.O.S.T. houses: Peck Smiley Etlin Architects
Architect for Market-Rate "For Sale" houses:
Andrews Architects, Inc.
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Marvin YELLOW ROSE Regional Recognition Susan Marvin (left), president of Marvin Windows
and Doors, presented the Yellow Rose Award to Martha Peck
Andrews, FAIA, and James E. Andrews, AIA, at the International
Builders Show in Las Vegas in January 2003. This award was made
in recognition of Andrews Architects' design contributions to
neighborhood livability and affordable housing at Rosemont Commons.
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