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When most buildings come down, they leave behind piles of debris headed for the landfill. But at the former Avenue Plaza site in Northeast Portland, a different story is unfolding. One where windows become greenhouses, lumber becomes new housing, and a building's legacy continues long after its walls come down.
Through the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's (BPS) Commercial Deconstruction Pilot Program, Sabin Community Development Corporation and Meticulous Deconstruction are demonstrating how buildings can be carefully dismantled and their materials reused, rather than discarded.
Centering community partnerships
The Avenue Plaza site included 22 apartments across three buildings, along with a laundry room, office, and storage structures. Before heavy deconstruction began, community volunteers played a key role in recovering usable materials.
With guidance from Meticulous Deconstruction, volunteers from AmeriCorps and Portland YouthBuilders salvaged windows, framing materials, landscaping rock, and more.
Those materials are already being put to use:
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Windows are being reused to build a greenhouse at another Sabin property
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Framing lumber was donated to the ReBuilding Center
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Landscaping rock was redeployed to address a drainage issue at a nearby site
This work reflects Sabin CDC's long-standing approach to reuse. That philosophy will continue through future development at the site, including the planned Nicole Sandoval Apartments.
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HomeShare Oregon, a trusted local non-profit, is now a qualified provider for the City's Home Sharing Pilot Program. Interested homeowners can sign up to list a room in their home via HomeShare Oregon, who will work to vet potential tenants, facilitate a good match, and help both homeowner and tenant through the early stages of home sharing.
Housing seekers can also sign up via the platform. Those seeking a room might be graduate students, the recently widowed, professionals who have to move to Portland for work, or other types of people you may know from your daily life.
Homeowners benefit from supplemental income, company at home, and the support of experienced HomeShare Oregon staff. The City program offers a $1000 grant for the first successful 30-day rental, provided all criteria are met.
The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund has delivered more than 20,000 portable cooling units to low-income heat-vulnerable residents since 2022. Apply by June 30, 2026. The program winds down after then.
M Carter Commons is now open! Subject to the N/NE Preference Policy, this project brings 62 new affordable homes to Overlook, directly adjacent to Kaiser Permanente and Overlook Park. Made up of studios and 1-bedrooms, M Carter Commons is ideally suited for low-income seniors. Developed by Urban League of Portland and Northwest Housing Alternatives, M Carter Commons is named for Margaret Louise Carter, Oregon's first Black woman state legislator. Amenities include a community room, a protected courtyard, supportive services from Urban League, and a MAX stop steps away.
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Give us your input and join Portland Parks for another community gathering where you can see the latest design concepts and share your feedback with the project team. June 4
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Calling all candidates, volunteers, and staffers in upcoming City of Portland elections! There's lots to learn about filing for office and campaign finance: sign up for a candidate learning session today. This November, Portlanders will vote for six City Council seats in Districts 3 and 4 and the City Auditor. May 28
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A collection of tools, processes, and resources will help teams across the City develop digital services. The playbook adapts best practices from the field of user experience (UX) design and provides a framework for teams to define, discover, and deliver on user needs. The Digital Services Playbook is available for anyone to explore.
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Registration is currently open for Rose City Self-Defense classes happening in June, including a Youth Safety & Self-Defense Class, Introductory LGBTQ+ Safety & Self-Defense Class, and Introductory Community Safety & Self-Defense Class.
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Ready to ride this summer? You don’t need a brand-new bike or gear to get started. In fact, one of the easiest ways to save money is to fix what you have or buy used. Portland has tons of options to help you do both.
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New job openings at the City of Portland
New job openings
- Collections Supervisor (Supervisor II)
How to Apply Session
Curious about working for the City of Portland, but not sure where to start? Come join us for an interactive webinar where we'll walk you through the basics and share some helpful tips along the way. To learn more and find upcoming sessions check out our website here.
Next Session: Thursday, May 27, 2026 from 5:30 – 7 PM (PST)
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Grants and funding
Commercial construction projects that are planning demolition of an existing building may qualify for incentives to promote material reuse versus recycling and landfill waste. The grants incentivizes reuse of materials through building clean out, fixtures skim, deconstruction, or structure moves.
Funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, planning grants support organizations in conducting assessments or planning needed to develop a full project proposal. Implementation grants can be used for projects that advance economic, social, and climate justice. The 2026 Community Grants funding cycle will offer up to $60 million across all grant types and funding areas. Funding limits (grant caps) vary based on the type of project proposed.
Who's Eligible: 501(c) and 521(a) nonprofit entities
Application Deadline: May 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
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Give us your feedback
Next week City Council will begin deliberation on the Approved Budget, which is the next step in the City’s FY 2026–27 budget process. Three days are scheduled for this work. Monday, May 18, 2026, is dedicated entirely to public comment, and Tuesday and Wednesday are reserved for Council deliberation with the goal of approving a budget by the end of Wednesday.
Written testimony on the Approved Budget opens when the Council agenda is published at 9:00 am on Friday, May 15. Select the “Testify on this item” link to submit written testimony or to register for verbal testimony. Those who wish to testify verbally in-person or virtually must sign up in advance by visiting the registration page, where you can also submit written testimony or by calling 311. Written testimony is included in the public record and shared with City Council members and leadership.
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Portland’s Tree Code (Title 11) is being updated. This important set of regulations helps protect and grow our urban forest—and now is your chance to learn more and share your input. The update will focus on community priorities like health and climate resilience and reducing disparities in tree canopy cover so all Portlanders can benefit from trees. As part of the update, staff will assess alignment with Portland Urban Forest Plan goals and ensure the Tree Code is responsive to current challenges and community priorities
Join us at the Urban Forestry Commission on Thursday, May 21, 2026 when the project team will present an overview of the project. Check the meeting page for the agenda and other meeting details.
The Proposed Draft of the Central City Code Amendments Project aims to address post-pandemic challenges facing Portland's Central City, focused on the need for more housing and facilitating economic recovery and revitalization. This proposal integrates feedback from the previous draft, informed by outreach to nearly 20 different neighborhoods, virtual open house discussions, community and business group presentations, and interviews with property owners and developers. You are invited to submit testimony at the Planning Commission hearing on the project scheduled on May 26, 2026.
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Serve on a board or committee
Do you live or work in East Portland? Want to help shape the future of the city? Consider joining the Community Involvement Committee! We are recruiting for two representatives of District 1. The Community Involvement Committee advises on community engagement practices for our planning projects that shape a wide range of policies – from housing and economic development to environmental protection and historic preservation. Applications are due May 31.
The Golf Advisory Committee serves as a communication link between the city, the public golfer and the golf course concessionaires. The Committee makes recommendations to Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau Director. Applications due May 31, 2026.
The New Portlanders Policy Commission (NPPC) works to integrate immigrant and refugee communities’ voices into the City of Portland's policies and decision-making. NPPC members are immigrants, refugees, community advocates, and live, work, play, or pray in the City of Portland. Applications due June 14, 2026.
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Portland City Council
Portland City Councilors' amendments to Mayor Keith Wilson's Proposed FY 2026-27 Budget are now publicly available. On Monday, May 18, Councilors will convene as the City Budget Committee to hear public testimony, and on Tuesday and Wednesday will convene again to deliberate and eventually vote on the budget in its entirety.
Not sure what district you’re in?
Check our district map to find your district and your City Councilors.
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Learn about your rights during workplace visits by immigration officials and how such activity can impact workers & operations. The event is hosted by the City of Portland's Immigrant Affairs Lead & Clear Clinic's immigration attorney and community engagement manager. May 21, 2026 from 6 - 8 p.m.
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Request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for any City of Portland program, service, event, or activity. To ensure the best response, please make your request at least five business days before the program or event, if possible.
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Your Portland moment
Come check out East Portland's Gateway Discovery Park. If you missed it, here's a photo from the recent lighting treatment from Hollywood Lights. The park covers more than three acres with features that include:
- Universally accessible play equipment
- Universally-accessible adaptive swings and spin
- Accessible sand and water play table
- Nature discovery area
- Sensory play elements
- Accessible climbing structure
The park was constructed in part with funding from Prosper Portland. Harper's Playground participated in the design process and contributed funding to the accessible play area. We appreciate our partners!
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Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या
口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad
Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me
Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 3-1-1
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
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