Blog Post
Developer Takes First Steps to Build Affordable Housing Along Streetcar Extension
Posted May 4, 2026 by Streetcar
The first affordable housing development along the planned extension of the Portland Streetcar system to Montgomery Park in Northwest Portland has reached an early milestone.
Mercy Housing Northwest, an affordable housing development nonprofit, submitted an application for early assistance to Portland Permitting and Development earlier this spring, according to the Portland Business Journal.
The application includes plans for two phases that will build 158 affordable units—one, two and three-bedroom apartments—along with office spaces, community rooms and a courtyard featuring a play area and other community amenities.
“Mercy Housing Northwest is proud to establish a lasting presence in this redevelopment,” said Brian Yarne, Project Developer at Mercy Housing Northwest. “Northwest Portland is a great place to raise a family, and this project reflects a shared commitment among public and private partners to strengthening the community.”
This project is one part of efforts by the group that owns the former ESCO steel manufacturing site that was rezoned in the 2024 adoption of the Montgomery Park Area Plan. That land use process sought to plan the area for redevelopment along with extension of the Portland Streetcar NS Line along NW 23rd Avenue, through the site along new streets on NW Roosevelt and NW Wilson, and turning around at NW 26th Avenue.
"We were always clear-eyed that the affordable housing would be the first thing built on the site," said Brian Ames, who represents the owners of the property. "Solving the housing crisis in Portland is going to take sustained, intentional action by both the public and private sector, so we're glad to be continuing to work with the City to address it."
The streetcar extension is currently in project development, with the City conducting engineering, design and environmental review in advance of construction. The land use changes adopted in 2024 establish “a new transit-oriented, mixed-use district in Northwest Portland” that was intended to see “how the City’s climate, economic development, employment, business development, and housing goals could be supported.” The plan area also includes commemoration of York, the enslaved member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The area along the streetcar project is expected to produce more than 2,000 new housing units and create 4,000 new jobs across several sectors, while connecting the area to the Pearl District and Downtown Portland by public transit.
Mercy Housing Northwest, an affordable housing development nonprofit, submitted an application for early assistance to Portland Permitting and Development earlier this spring, according to the Portland Business Journal.
The application includes plans for two phases that will build 158 affordable units—one, two and three-bedroom apartments—along with office spaces, community rooms and a courtyard featuring a play area and other community amenities.
“Mercy Housing Northwest is proud to establish a lasting presence in this redevelopment,” said Brian Yarne, Project Developer at Mercy Housing Northwest. “Northwest Portland is a great place to raise a family, and this project reflects a shared commitment among public and private partners to strengthening the community.”
This project is one part of efforts by the group that owns the former ESCO steel manufacturing site that was rezoned in the 2024 adoption of the Montgomery Park Area Plan. That land use process sought to plan the area for redevelopment along with extension of the Portland Streetcar NS Line along NW 23rd Avenue, through the site along new streets on NW Roosevelt and NW Wilson, and turning around at NW 26th Avenue.
"We were always clear-eyed that the affordable housing would be the first thing built on the site," said Brian Ames, who represents the owners of the property. "Solving the housing crisis in Portland is going to take sustained, intentional action by both the public and private sector, so we're glad to be continuing to work with the City to address it."
The streetcar extension is currently in project development, with the City conducting engineering, design and environmental review in advance of construction. The land use changes adopted in 2024 establish “a new transit-oriented, mixed-use district in Northwest Portland” that was intended to see “how the City’s climate, economic development, employment, business development, and housing goals could be supported.” The plan area also includes commemoration of York, the enslaved member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The area along the streetcar project is expected to produce more than 2,000 new housing units and create 4,000 new jobs across several sectors, while connecting the area to the Pearl District and Downtown Portland by public transit.