The Jade is a 48-unit affordable housing development with a family focus and transit orientation. The four-story building will feature primarily one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, a new public plaza on Division Street to support community activity, and a commercial space on the first floor, which will house a multicultural event space and nonprofit offices.
The formerly vacant furniture showroom at the corner of S.E. 82nd Avenue and Division Street in Portland’s Jade District that has served as the Jade/APANO Multicultural Space (JAMS) for several years was the location last year of an official groundbreaking for the structure that will rise in its place. Construction is slated to be complete by January 2019.
Upon the building’s completion, the gathering space at The Jade will serve as a hub for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, immigrants, refugees, and communities of color, while also becoming a resource for organizing, civic engagement, leadership development, the arts, and more.
Metro, the local government agency that serves the more than 1.5 million people who live in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, bought the corner property in 2014 with a commitment to develop affordable apartments and explore the creation of a community space. While planning for the development took place, Metro leased the building to the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) at no cost, so the group could serve as host to a neighborhood space for events, classes, meetings, and more, instead of the building sitting vacant and unused.
APANO plans to purchase space on the ground floor of the new building for its offices and the community space, while the operation of the apartments will be overseen by ROSE Community Development Corporation.
Fundraising for the 5,070 square-foot Cultural Center, public plaza, and permanent home for APANO reached a midpoint last spring. Donations and pledges by individuals, healthcare providers, local government, and foundations to the “Roots to Rise” campaign helped the drive cross the $1,000,000 mark of the $2,000,000 goal.
