08/13/2026
Congratulations to the Urban League of Portland and Northwest Housing Alternatives on the ribbon cutting for M. Carter Commons!
This 62-unit affordable apartment community for seniors in North Portland is the culmination of more than six years of vision, persistence, and partnership. Named for Oregon's first Black female legislator, Margaret Louise Carter, the project is a fitting tribute to a lifetime of community advocacy, and it was an honor to celebrate alongside her at the opening.
M. Carter Commons is a powerful example of what's possible when public, private, and nonprofit partners align around a shared, community-first purpose. Projects like this take years of coordination, complex financing, and a lot of hands working toward the same goal. Delivering M. Carter Commons on time and on budget, in a way that truly serves the community it was built for, is a testament to everyone involved.
Huge congratulations to: Urban League of Portland and Northwest Housing Alternatives, whose deep roots in community engagement and culturally responsive services shaped this project from day one. NHA's lead developer Mary Bradshaw, and the leadership of Nkenge Harmon Johnson and Trell Anderson, whose trust and shared decision-making made this partnership work. Congratulations to Salazar Architect Inc. for design that will serve residents well for generations and for the incredible collaboration throughout. And a huge thank you to our own Walsh Construction / O'Neill-Walsh Community Builders team — Brian Layman, Lee Santoyo, Ali O'Neill, Maurice Rahming, Jared Holm, and Monica Vilay — for navigating a tight urban site next to active MAX light rail with precision, care, and deep expertise
Many thanks to the many funding partners who built the capital stack that made this possible — including the Metro Affordable Housing Bond, Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, the Metro Transit-Oriented Development program, and the Portland Housing Bureau — along with Kaiser Permanente for donating the land
Proud to have played a part in bringing this vision to life. Welcome home to the residents of M. Carter Commons!