Quad Inc., a nonprofit organization that serves the disabled community, has plans to open a new facility to serve seniors and those with special needs in wheelchairs.
The organization, Quadriplegics United Against Dependency Inc., is expected to go before Gresham’s design review commission later this month for the final vetting of plans to build the 44-unit affordable housing project at 306 S.E. 162nd Ave.. Called Station 162, the facility will be funded with low-income housing tax credits.
Quad Inc. bought the vacant property in 2011 following a bank foreclosure on the property. The building will be specifically designed for wheelchair accessibility, and rent offered to the range of those making 30-60 percent of the area’s median income.
The project will be the fifth building for Quad Inc. and the second in Gresham in addition to the 23-unit Central Station Apartments.
What sets Quad Inc.’s housing apart from other affordable housing projects is its care of people with severe disabilities. Residents can elect to get assistance for needs including morning and bedtime care, cooking, medical assistance.
“We already operated four other projects across the Portland area, and we have a waiting list of more than 70 applicants,” said Greg Gortmaker, executive director of Quad Inc. “Applicants usually move in and stay a long time. There’s not very much turnover.”
Gortmaker hopes to start construction on the building in October and November and have the first resident move by fall of 2016. Each unit will have features that enable paralyzed and elderly tenants to live independently in their own home as well as promoting aging-in-place for seniors. The apartments will include “roll-under” counters, key card entry, swing-free door closures, roll-in showers and emergency call systems. The building will have an indoor community room and a roof terrace with views onto 162nd Avenue to help enhance the area’s security.
“This is going to be a really nice addition to 162nd Avenue,” Gortmaker said. “It will be a modern, attractive building.”