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The Portland Metro: Extra Section
Date: 4/02/2001
Title: Mediterranean Living
Spanish villages and squares inspire the design for a housing development for senior citizens
A touch of Spain is coming to North Portland. In June, Village Enterprise, a nonprofit, Roman Catholic- based developer, will begin construction of Assumption Village. When completed in June 2002, the 109-unit senior housing complex should resemble a Mediterranean town square, complete with flower gardens, gushing fountains and living quarters accented with a strong Spanish-colonial flavor.
“When I was traveling through Europe several years ago, I saw the way villages were created and people lived together, and I knew it would work here,” said the Rev. Michael Maslowsky, director of pastoral services for the Archdiocese of Portland and project planner. “But even in my wildest dreams, I didn’t think it would catch on this quickly.”
The $12 million project, at 7320 N. Smith St., will provide 79 assisted-living and 34 independent-living units. At least 75 percent will be priced for low- or moderate- income residents, Maslowsky said.
Plans call for the quadrangle of two-story buildings to open into a public square dominated by the 80-year-old Assumption Catholic Church. Covered sidewalks, shade trees, park benches and a central courtyard in the shadow of the stately chapel will enhance the site.
Inside, residents and visitors will enjoy a bakery shop, beauty salon, recreation Center and community meeting room. According to Melodi Kellenbeck, finance director for Village Enterprise, at least 60 people have signed up for the one- and two-bedroom apartments, although ground won’t be broken for another three months.
‘We haven’t started advertising, and already phone calls are coming in from around the region,” Kellenbeck said. ‘For now, we’re telling people that we’ll put their names on a waiting list and send them an application later.”
Grade school coming down. Plans call for demolishing the Assumption Grade School building and moving the convent and rectory off site. New construction will encompass the historic church.
Village Enterprise, under the original name St. Anthony Village Enterprise, was organized through the Archdiocese of Portland in 1997 because of a shortage of senior citizen housing and calls to replace the outdated St. Anthony Catholic Church and school near Southeast 79th Avenue and Powell Boulevard.
When the 127 mixed housing units were completed in 1999, they immediately filled. Today, there’s a waiting list of nearly 200 senior citizens, with requests coming from as far away as Connecticut.
Citing a need to expand, the nonprofit group shortened its name to Village Enterprise and last year proposed constructing the North Portland complex, modeled after St. Anthony Village.
Since then, the organization has added six more projects to its long-range plans, including a student residential center near the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis and another senior village to replace St. Francis of Assisi Grade School in Southeast Portland.
“Much of our success is because we have a spiritual base, although we’re nondenominational, and because we’ve committed to being part of the neighborhood,” Maslowsky said. “At St. Anthony Village, for instance, we have all kinds of support and community groups who use our meeting rooms, and neighborhood people who like to stop by our coffee shop.”
Past fights over developments
Although there have been fights recently between developers and residents over similar projects in North Portland, there appears to be little controversy over the Assumption Village idea.
“We’re really pleased that they’re going to keep the historic church,” said Linda Hval, president of the St. Johns Neighborhood Association. “We haven’t had any of the controversy of the Host project, I think because it’s their own property, and they’re trying to fit into the needs of the neighborhood.”
Hval referred to the fact that for several years, a vocalIn 1998, after years of emotionally wrenching consolidations, the Archdiocese of Portland completed the merger of four Roman Catholic parishes: Holy Cross, Queen of Peace, Blessed Sacrament and Assumption.
In little more than a year, instead of staring at an empty school building and church, supporters said they will feel a renewed sense of pride.
“There’s been great sadness among Catholics who have seen their parishes close,” said Tanya Backman, among about 1,200 families who make up the North Portland Catholic Community. “But the idea of being able to walk out of your apartment to Mass or other chapel service is a thrilling idea to lots of senior citizens out here.”
By Joe Fitz Gibbon, special to The Oregonian
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