patrick quinton.JPG

Patrick Quinton, executive director of the Portland Development Commission, told the City Council that not all $20 million might be spent following the city's affordable housing set-aside money.

(The Oregonian)

Portland's urban renewal agency has committed that the full $20 million pledged by Mayor Charlie Hales for affordable housing in North and Northeast Portland will be spent to provide shelter for low-income residents.

The confirmation from the Portland Development Commission comes two weeks after the agency's executive director, Patrick Quinton, told the City Council that some of the money could be spent on mixed-use projects or housing open to residents with higher incomes.

Quinton's comments drew fire from city Commissioner Nick Fish, who questioned how and why the agency would side-step city spending guidelines for affordable housing projects.

Portland's celebrated policy requires that 30 percent of funds from urban renewal districts citywide are invested in housing projects serving low-income residents, the vast majority earning up to 60 percent of the region's median income ($41,640 for a family of four).

Because Hales pledged $20 million for affordable housing above and beyond the set-aside requirements in the Interstate urban renewal district, redevelopment officials hedged that perhaps some of the new money could be used more flexibly.

Quinton told the City Council that a community group would make recommendations.

"With all due respect, I don't think a community process trumps a City Council policy," Fish, who oversaw the Portland Housing Bureau from 2009 through early 2013, told Quinton on May 14.

But now the development commission confirms that all $20 million will be spent according to city policy.

"Yes, the additional resources will be programmed in accordance with the Housing Set-Aside Policy," the development commission told the City Council in its budget documents, set to be approved Wednesday.

Additionally, the development commission will earmark $6 million from Oregon Convention Center urban renewal district for affordable housing.

The development commission originally budgeted that money for commercial property redevelopment in exchange for increasing housing money in the Interstate district. Redevelopment officials worked with the Housing Bureau when crafting the proposal.

But the PDC altered its budget at the urging of Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who oversees the Housing Bureau, after he told Quinton he wasn't comfortable with the arrangement.

*

Reading:

The Oregonian: Portland boil water alert: City emergency managers had 3 options to alert 670,000 people, here's why

The Oregonian: Portland street fee: Business alliance asks members to testify, Venture Portland calls fee 'punch to gut'

KOIN TV: R2DToo 'still here, contrary to popular belief'

KOIN TV: Ideas discussed for vacant lot in NE Portland

-- Brad Schmidt