Here's a very welcome breath of fresh air, especially In the face of so much gentrification that is going on in Portland! This remodel for Sellwood residents shows how you can adapt and reuse our precious historic houses so that they can accommodate more people while also providing more income to support the existing home.


In this case, the resident family loves the neighborhood and intends to continue to live in the home. They asked us to design a way for them to lift up the existing structure and then add a sizeable new living unit underneath. The new space is about four feet underground and four feet above ground, which lifts the existing two level house up just a few feet more, well short of the overall height limit of thirty five feet. 


Unlike the seemingly pervasive method of simply tearing down existing buildings so that new giant ones can be built, this approach achieves upgrades in energy efficient living places and adds density while retaining the continuity of our beloved historical urban environment.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Kol Peterson, the folks at accessorydwellings.org, and the entire ADU community, progress is being made in the evolution of ADU policy. Despite an attempt at a last minute amendment from Amanda Fritz, an outpouring of written support for the original code update directed towards Portland City Council members led to the passing of the Accessory Structures Zoning Code Update . The update includes the following, quite pertinent updates for ADUs:

• Small ( <24' long), single story, detached, covered accessory structures in the side and rear setback are allowed!
• Detached ADU's less than 15' high are not required to look like a miniature version of the main house.
• The height limit on detached ADUs is increased to 20'. 
• Setback from the front lot line is reduced to 40' (instead of 60') or set directly behind the rear of the house.
• Design compatibility standards for larger ADU's have been relaxed to include more design options.

These changes are good news for homeowners who want freedom in the design and layout of their property and their ADU!

The other issue that has put ADU projects in the spotlight is the Multnomah County tax issue regarding the reappraisal of property values (re-MAV). It's clear that detached ADUs are triggering property re-MAVs that account for the value of the new ADU but now also reappraise the existing home on the property as if it were new construction or had been re-zoned. The result is huge annual tax hikes for homeowners that add new, detached ADUs on their lot. Thankfully, Commissioner Loretta Smith and others are speaking out against the new policy for re-MAV-ing properties with detached ADU projects. If you are a homeowner impacted by this you can appeal the new tax assessment and join forces with others through accessorydwellings.org. Consider emailing County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury mult.chair@multco.us and David Austin david.austin@multco.us to let them know how their assessment policy is affecting you! Let's not increase the barriers to affordable, space-efficient housing options in a Portland dealing with such growing pains!

We are seeking to expand our collective office environment in inner Southeast Portland. Our shared office space already includes The City Repair Project and permaculture designers. Our hope is to find an individual who will complement our existing trades, and embrace a shared and collaborative work setting. This is a great fit for someone needing a space in which to use a laptop, but not suited to daily customer visits or drop-in clients. The office is on the second floor and is one large shared room. The building is rustic industrial, but the community within is warm and uplifting, enjoying shared meals and happy hour toasts together in the office.

Amenities & Perks:
- Your own reserved desk
- Utilities & high speed internet included
- Shared use of printer/scanner and/or computing facilities can be negotiated
- Open project space and lounge within shared office
- Large street-front conference room for occasional meetings
- Kitchenette
- Shared use of printer and/or computing facilities can be negotiated
- Indoor bike parking (upstairs)
- Free street parking
- 24-hour access to a secure building
- Conveniently located in inner southeast at SE 9th & Alder
- Close to coffee shops, restaurants, bus lines and the interstates
- Rent $175/month
- Month-to-month agreement

Does this sound like  a great fit for you? Please click HERE to provide your information and we will contact you soon.