BRIDGE celebrated the grand opening of Songbird in Portland with a ribbon-cutting video that gathered key partners together in spirit. Songbird brings 61 new affordable homes for families to Portland’s Eliot neighborhood, with priority given under the City’s N/NE Preference Policy to community members who were displaced or at risk of displacement. “Home is the foundation for your family and yourself," said Latif Bossman, a Songbird resident whose family has lived in the neighborhood for decades. "Home is where the heart is." (Photo: Cheryl McIntosh)

Last month, BRIDGE held a virtual rededication for One Church Street: 93 affordable apartment homes originally developed in 2002. BRIDGE restored and enriched the building’s physical condition and sustainability, enhancing the property’s long-term operations, affordability and quality of life for residents. One Church serves families with incomes between 50%-60% AMI; 31 homes offer even deeper affordability with Project-Based Section 8 subsidies and 12 apartments are set aside for HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS).

In Portland, construction continues apace on RiverPlace Parcel 3, where BRIDGE is bringing a second phase of mixed-use development to the neighborhood, including 178 new affordable homes for families. “Quality housing that families can afford is a must for Portlanders working hard to pay the bills and enjoy a quality of life in every corner of our city,” said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, adding that the next phase of RiverPlace “takes a great step toward expanding the availability of affordable housing in my hometown, and I’ll keep battling for every possible federal resource to achieve that same goal in all of Oregon.”

The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have recognized BRIDGE for achieving an ambitious energy savings goal as a partner in the Better Buildings Challenge. BRIDGE has achieved cumulative energy savings of 49% since 2010 due to greater portfolio-wide efficiency efforts. Kranti Malik, Senior Portfolio and Sustainability Associate for BRIDGE, spoke at the Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit in May: “We’re continuing our efforts towards sustainability through energy efficiency retrofits. For example, we’ll be installing solar on at least 30 additional properties using SOMAH (Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing) funding, and we’ll be using the Self-Generation Incentive Program to fund battery storage projects. These efforts will save on energy costs and consumption, at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” Ultimately, these measures contribute to more sustainable environments that benefit residents and communities alike.

Over the years, BRIDGE's scholarship programs have awarded nearly 400 residents with a total of $2.25 million in educational assistance. As one scholar said, "I had exhausted all [possible] grants and loans... Without the scholarship I don’t think I could have finished my degree program.” Applications are due July 11 for the Stein Scholarship (up to $6,000 to support residents’ educational and career goals) and the Colwell Scholarship (for residents who are pursuing a business-related program, $10,000/year for up to four years).

Thanks to our amazing partners and project teams, five BRIDGE developments received Gold Nugget Awards from the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. The Balboa Reservoir Master Plan earned a Grand Award for best on-the-boards site plan, and Awards of Merit went to Songbird, Montara, Vermont & Manchester and Fruitvale Transit Village Phase IIB. (Balboa rendering: Michael McCann)

BRIDGE Housing Board Chair Kenneth Novack announced in May that the search committee of the Board has chosen SIGHTHOUND Search Partners to lead the recruitment and selection of the next President and CEO of BRIDGE. SIGHTHOUND, a specialized executive search firm that focuses on the real estate industry, brings decades of cumulative experience to the process. The firm’s Managing Partner James Dell’Olio and Partner Shabnam Boettle are leading the search for BRIDGE.