Groundbreaking at The Valfre at Avenida 26

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 07, 2021

The Valfre at Avenida 26 Celebrates Groundbreaking on first Affordable Housing Bond Project in Forest Grove

From left to right:

Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington, Adolph “Val” Valfre, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Washington County Komi Kalevor, Forest Grove Mayor Peter Truax, Brian Carleton of Carleton Hart Architecture

From left to right:

Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington, Adolph “Val” Valfre, Forest Grove Mayor Peter Truax

Washington County celebrates the groundbreaking for The Valfre at Avenida 26, a Regional Affordable Housing Bond project located in Forest Grove, breathing new life into the site of an old concrete plant. This project will provide 36 units of affordable housing for low income families, with 30 two- and three-bedroom units. Eight of the units will be set aside to provide Permanent Supportive Housing with wrap around services and case management for our most vulnerable community members.

Washington County Board Chair Kathryn Harrington shared, “This is an important step forward as Washington County implements the Regional Affordable Housing Bond program. Geographic distribution is crucial to ensuring affordable housing is accessible throughout our County. This project provides much needed affordable housing in a vibrant community with Hispanic and Latin American roots with a range of unit sizes and available services to center the needs of our community.”

Adolph “Val” Valfre, for whom the project is named, served 24 years in the US Air Force, retiring as an Air Force Officer and Vietnam Veteran. Beyond his service in the US Air Force, he is a former Forest Grove City Councilor, prior Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Washington County, a longtime public servant, and resident of Forest Grove. He shared, “I am honored to be included in this important project. As a longtime Forest Grove resident with many years of experience working on affordable housing, this project is close to my heart. As the cost of rent increases across the County and families are hit hard by the pandemic, affordable housing projects like this are crucial to providing stability for my community.”

Forest Grove Mayor Truax added, “Our city looks forward to embracing the tenants of The Valfre at Avenida 26 into our community. This location offers access to many of our community’s most important amenities including the Forest Grove City Library, public transportation, an aquatic center, multiple parks, Harvey Clarke Elementary School, and more. We pride ourselves on our walkable downtown and look forward to sharing this space with The Valfre at Avenida 26.”

Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez shared, “On behalf of Metro, I am happy that new affordable housing is coming to Forest Grove. The regional affordable housing bond program helps ensure housing choices are available across our region. We need affordable housing throughout every neighborhood; no matter the size of the city. Projects like the Valfre are possible because of strong coordination between regional and local governments, multiple funding sources, developers and of course all the people whose hands and creativity build these homes. I and the rest of the Metro team are grateful for the work pouring in to make this project possible.”

This project, funded in part by the Metro affordable housing bond, is a partnership between DCM Communities LLC who will develop the site, the Housing Authority of Washington County, Cascade Management, and service providers including Bienestar and Sequoia Mental Health. Bienestar is partnering with DCM to lead the effort in community outreach and inclusion as well as equitable marketing and lease-up. Long term, Bienestar will collaborate with HAWC to provide on-site services to the families and individuals who live at this development. Sequoia Mental Health Services, Inc. will provide services to The Valfre at Avenida 26 tenants with licensed medical practitioners offering a range of behavioral health services for adults and children.

The Valfre at Avenida 26 is tentatively scheduled to open Fall 2022.

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The Housing Authority of Washington County (HAWC) has been providing and developing affordable housing opportunities in Washington County for nearly 50 years. Begun in 1970, the effort has continued in the County’s Department of Housing Services (DHS). The Department of Housing Services was formed in 1992 to administer housing activities and programs of the County and the Housing Authority. HAWC remains a separate legal entity and contracts with the County to implement and administer Housing Authority programs and all support services. This mission of the Department of Housing Services/HAWC is to provide a continuum of affordable housing options that promote community strength. Currently, DHS/HAWC administers 2,828 Section 8 Rental Assistance Vouchers and has a portfolio of 1,818 affordable housing (developed independently and in partnership with developers) and public housing units with 264 units in the pipeline.

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