Ribbon cutting to celebrate completion of second Native American affordable housing development in Cully neighborhood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ribbon cutting to celebrate completion of second Native American affordable housing development in Cully neighborhood

PORTLAND, Ore., (Apr 14, 2022)—The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and Community Development Partners (CDP) will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 5, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the Mamook Tokatee affordable housing development. Mamook Tokatee, a Chinook Wawa phrase for “make beautiful,” offers 56 units of affordable housing in Portland’s Cully Neighborhood. Mamook Tokatee will be the second time the partners have come together to provide affordable housing for tribal members, Native families, and others in Portland using federal funding from the Siletz Tribe’s Indian Housing Block Grant. Those funds have generally been used for affordable housing activities within reservation lands and allow for certain units to be reserved for Native tenants. Tribal funding will augment other more conventional sources of funding. Eric Paine, chief executive officer of CDP, the project’s developer, says, “CDP has had a wonderful experience partnering with NAYA and the Siletz Tribe on our second joint development focused on providing high-quality affordable housing to urban Native Americans and Siletz tribal members. Like our first project, Nesika Illahee, we’ve taken multiple complex
funding sources and woven them together in order to create a model tailored to the Native family and artist population that will be calling the community home.” Speakers will include Siletz Tribal Chairman Delores Pigsley, Oregon State Representative Tawna Sanchez, HUD Regional Administrator of the NW Margaret Salazar, Oregon Community Housing Services Director Andrea Bell, and representatives from each of the partner
organizations that saw this project through fruition. Intended to create affordable housing for Native Americans and artists who have been pushed out of Portland due to skyrocketing housing costs, Mamook Tokatee will target Siletz tribal members in Portland and the wider urban Native population particularly hard hit by the Portland housing crisis. Adhering to Earth Advantage green building standards, the development was designed by Carleton Hart Architecture and constructed by LMC Construction. In addition to 56 dwelling units, Mamook Tokatee will also offer a community art studio, a courtyard, and public art by local Natives. “It was a great pleasure to work once again with NAYA and CDP to provide more housing for Tribal members and others in the Portland area,” said Siletz Tribal Chairman Delores Pigsley. “Stable housing is so important, and now more families and individuals will benefit from it.” Where Nesika Illahee offers additional on-site services to families in recovery, Mamook Tokatee’s focus will bring much needed affordable housing to the Cully neighborhood with a focus on the Native community as well as affordable housing for artists. Both affordable housing properties are located on 42nd Avenue and near NAYA. “Artists have always been revered culture keepers in Native communities,” says Paul Lumley, NAYA chief executive officer. “The impact of gentrification on the Native community in Portland has been devastating. This project helps to restore opportunities for our youth and the broader
Native community to see their culture represented. Mamook Tokatee is a step in the right direction to demonstrate that Native culture and artists still have a place in Portland.” CDP and NAYA co-developed the property in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Comprehensive, on-site resident services are provided by NAYA and management is provided by Viridian Management. The project is made possible by 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) GHAP and OR-MEP funds and Indian Housing Block Grant Funding from the Siletz Tribe. Additional funding was received from Metro, Meyer Memorial Trust, Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program and the Energy Trust of Oregon. Construction financing was provided by Capital One and a permanent loan is provided by the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH).
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About Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) NAYA provides culturally specific programs and services that guide our people in the direction of personal success and balance through cultural empowerment. Our mission is to enhance the diverse strengths of our youth and families in partnership with the community through cultural identity and education. About the Siletz Tribe A group of many tribes and bands, each with its own language, territory, and customs became the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in the mid-1800s. The Siletz Tribe offers many programs and services to tribal members, including housing, education, health, and social and employment services. Culture and language classes also are available in all areas in which the tribe has offices, including Siletz, Portland, Salem and Eugene. About Community Development Partners Founded in 2011, Community Development Partners develops and operates sustainable, life-enhancing affordable housing with a focus on long term community engagement and innovative design. The company’s mission is to repair and strengthen the fabric of cities and towns by meeting the housing needs of local citizens through the thoughtful planning and creative development of sustainable, affordable communities.
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PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
NAYA, CDP, and Siletz executive leadership will be available on-site for media interviews between 1 and 2 pm on Thursday, May 5 th . Please contact Jerzy Shedlock if you would like to schedule a time for an interview.

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