Jarrett Street 12 is located in north Portland at the corner of N Interstate Avenue and N Jarrett Street along the MAX light rail line. The project is a 7,200 sf, 12-unit affordable housing project whose units were all offered for sale at below market rates through the City of Portland SDC Exemption Program. In addition to efficient planning to respond to the small and challenging site, the project utilized modular construction in order to minimize construction time and budget. The result is an innovative development that helps address the City's affordable housing crisis. 

The simple massing is a response to the tight site and zoning constraints. The overall site area is a mere 3,900 sf. This along with the rear and side yard setback requirements required an efficient floor plan. The building is comprised of three 2,538 sf floors with 4 units on each floor. The unit mix includes 6 one-bedroom units, 4 large studios ('open' one-bedrooms), and 2 small studios. The building is served by a single stair.

Modular construction was utilized to minimize construction time and budget, and as a way to address the lack of site area for construction mobilization and staging. The project is comprised of 15 modular units that were manufactured in Aumsville, Oregon about 60 miles south of Portland. Transportation and setting of the modular units spanned a two-day period.

The building's design is marked by an overlapping cladding detail that gives a subtle stratified appearance to the massing. As the project was designed to meet the City of Portland Community Design Standards, the overlapping detail offered an innovative approach to a number of design requirements (building base, cornice, etc.).

Project Information

Location  /  Portland, Oregon
Type  /  Multi-family housing
Size  /  7,200 sf, 12 units
Status  /  Completed 2017
Role  /  Architect of Record & Design Architect
Cost  /  USD 1.1 million

Awards
2019 Merit Award, AIA Oregon - Portland Architecture Awards
2019 Small Projects Award, AIA National