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Central City Concern is celebrating the virtual grand re-opening of the historic Henry building!
This celebration is the culmination of several years of collaboration among many partners. The Henry now features 173 new and rehabilitated homes for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community, including veterans and those with experience in the criminal justice system. The building is located in the heart of downtown Portland, with easy access to services, transportation, and other amenities.
While initially planned as an occupied rehabilitation, CCC’s housing team and development staff quickly pivoted, finding off-site housing for the residents during the 18-month construction period. This made life during construction much easier for the residents.
“The Henry has long served as a welcome safety net for those with high barriers to accessing housing,” says Mary-Rain O’Meara, CCC’s Director of Real Estate Development. “We’re honored to continue providing safe, secure and barrier-free housing for another hundred years to our most vulnerable neighbors in Portland.”
All Henry residents will benefit from CCC’s wraparound services, including access to physical and mental health care, supported employment services, recovery services and rent and food assistance. The building will offer veteran housing supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, re-entry housing supported by the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice and low-barrier affordable housing. Additionally, Flip the Script, CCC’s signature program designed for African American men and women exiting incarceration, will be housed on-site. Flip the Script was recently named as a 2020 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardee.
In addition to preserving many of the historic features of the original structure built in 1909, the Henry rehabilitation added energy efficient features and resident amenities, emphasizing CCC’s commitment to green standards and sustainability. A few of these include:
- Solar photovoltaic array on the roof, helping to offset building expenses, thanks to PGE’s Renewal Development Fund.
- Water saving plumbing fixtures and high efficiency water heaters
- Ceiling fans, high efficiency LED lighting and “Window Watcher” thermostats in each unit.
- Interior storm windows in each unit to improve air sealing and thermal comfort.
- New kitchenettes with two-burner glass cooktops, quartz countertops and hardwood veneer cabinetry in each unit. Cooktops are connected to timer controls which help prevent cooking fires, keeping the community safe.
CCC is thrilled the building features two full-wall, hand-painted murals in two different community spaces. One has been painted by artist and illustrator Linnea Maas of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her projects include acrylic and oil paintings, murals, commissions, virtual reality and freelance illustrations.
The other mural is by artist Ursula Barton, an Oregon native currently living in Portland, whose work is inspired by her constant fascination with weather, architectural landscapes and bridges. The creation of Barton‘s mural will be an interactive process involving new residents of the Henry building.
CCC offers our thanks to the entire development and funding team behind the Henry rehabilitation, including Colas Construction, SERA Architects, Klosh Group, KPFF, and Meritus. The $37 million project was financed by the Portland Housing Bureau, US Bank, Oregon Housing and Community Services, PGE Renewal Development Fund and Energy Trust of Oregon.
