In Portland’s Kenton Neighborhood, a new affordable housing complex named the Hattie Redmond Apartments is spearheading a concerted movement to welcome displaced Black families back to North and Northeast Portland after decades of displacement driven by urban renewal and discriminatory housing policies.
Reclaiming Home in North Portland’s Kenton Neighborhood
For decades, North and Northeast Portland bore the scars of systemic urban displacement. Harmful redlining policies and aggressive urban renewal projects forced Black residents out of their homes by the thousands between 1990 and 2010. Today, a powerful counter-movement is underway along North Interstate Avenue.
The Hattie Redmond Apartments—named after the prominent Oregon suffragist and co-developed by the Urban League of Portland—stand as a physical manifestation of this reclamation. According to reporting from the National Urban League, the building serves vulnerable members of the community, providing over 60 units specifically designed for individuals with disabilities who have experienced chronic homelessness and request services within the Black or African American community.
Building Community Through Targeted Support Services
Housing is only the first step in a broader stabilization strategy implemented by local advocates. Leor Beverly, Associate Director of Housing for the Urban League of Portland, has watched the project evolve from bare timber into a thriving community hub. Beverly oversees three multi-family properties and more than 200 scattered sites, emphasizing that relationship-building remains the cornerstone of her daily work.
“So when I first started, this building was just sticks,” Beverly said, as reported by the National Urban League. “I think that this building, one day, by the time my grandchildren get grown, this will be historical.”
The facility offers robust on-site support to help residents rebuild their lives and secure long-term stability. Programming includes therapeutic paint sessions, workforce cohorts in partnership with other agency departments, and an on-site barber providing haircuts to prepare residents for re-entry into the workforce.
Expanding Senior Housing Horizons with M Carter Commons
The momentum in North Portland extends beyond individual housing complexes. This year, the Urban League of Portland is expanding its footprint with the opening of M Carter Commons, a 62-unit affordable senior housing development. The new property honors former Oregon legislator Sen. Margaret Louise Carter, further cementing the historical legacy of Black leadership in the region.
These initiatives address a profound historical wrong while offering tangible resources for a population that endured decades of economic and geographic marginalization. As these developments open their doors, they do more than provide shelter—they actively restore a displaced community’s rightful place in Portland’s urban fabric.
The Road Ahead for Restorative Urban Development
What strategies do you believe are most effective in addressing historical housing disparities in your own community? Share your thoughts below.
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