Big ideas to fix Portland's housing crisis

Some Big Ideas to Fix Housing

Everything from tariffs to budget cuts at both the federal and the city level could further slow Portland’s housing production slump. State Sen. Khanh Pham, chair of the Oregon Senate’s Housing & Development Committee, explains how things got so bad and what laws she’s hoping to pass to help us out of this mess. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Drop in Apartment Construction

Even as Gov. Tina Kotek and other elected officials are trying to encourage more housing development, apartment construction in the Portland metro area is at its lowest level in more than a decade. That means rents are expected to rise — by up to 3% by the end of the year, according to the latest projections. [Willamette Week]

Converting Offices to Housing in Old Town

Two development projects to convert office space to apartments have received more than $11 million in loans from the city’s economic development agency Prosper Portland. City Council has already waived some development fees and loosened requirements for seismic upgrades, but developers say more incentives may be needed if Portland wants to encourage more conversions. [Portland Business Journal 🔒]

Alleged Forgery by Ousted Lake Oswego Politician

Ex-Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside faces multiple felony charges over allegedly posing as her mother’s longtime companion to get $30,000 in loans. She resigned from office earlier this month after the Clackamas County Commission suspended her pay. [Oregonian]