The city of Corvallis has taken a significant step in addressing its housing crisis with the grand opening of Rivergreen Landing, an 84-unit affordable housing development. While Mayor Charles Maughan acknowledges this as a meaningful contribution, he emphasizes that the city’s broader plan to develop hundreds more affordable units will be the key to making lasting change.
Green Light Development and Home First Development, both committed to providing affordable housing throughout Oregon, have now extended their efforts to the Willamette Landing neighborhood in South Corvallis. Rivergreen Landing, located at 3460 S.E. Midvale Drive, officially opened its doors on Wednesday.
The $32 million project was made possible through a combination of state funding, support from Oregon Housing Community Services, contributions from the city of Corvallis, and private investment.
A Community-Oriented Development
“We always love building in places that want us there,” said Ben Pray, owner and CEO of Home First Development. “We know there’s a need, but we really like working in communities where they say, ‘We need affordable housing. We want to help make it possible.’ Folks on fixed incomes like social security… they’ll be able to afford living here.”
Rivergreen Landing offers a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, each featuring spacious layouts, washers and dryers, balconies, and access to a clubhouse and other amenities. To qualify for most units, applicants must earn no more than 60 percent of the area’s median income, which is approximately $63,000 in Corvallis. For 12 of the units, the income requirement is even lower, at 30 percent of the median income.
A one-bedroom apartment will be priced just under $1,000 per month, but for those meeting the 30 percent income requirement, rent will be around $600.
A Step in the Right Direction
Mayor Maughan highlighted the impact of Corvallis’ high median income, which is driven by major local employers such as Oregon State University, Hewlett Packard, and Good Samaritan Medical. However, he acknowledged that the average worker earns significantly less than the median income.
“It’s not going to solve the problem overnight,” he said. “When you’re running at less than a half-percent vacancy rate, that’s not normal. Most apartment complexes would be thrilled to be that full, but for a city, that’s bad.”
Maughan explained that the land used for the project had previously been zoned for mixed-use, but Oregon Senate Bill 8 facilitated its conversion for affordable housing. This legislation prevents cities from blocking affordable housing developments on non-residential land within urban growth boundaries.
Beyond providing shelter, Maughan emphasized the broader economic benefits of affordable housing. “For our local businesses to be able to hire employees that they can afford because they can live here. They can live and work right here. And more opportunities for our local schools because these families are going to send their children to schools right here in Corvallis. Right now, Corvallis is facing a student shortfall, which is going to affect their funding. So this fixes a lot of problems all at one time.”
Ongoing Efforts to Expand Affordable Housing
Rivergreen Landing marks the 18th affordable housing project completed by Green Light Development and Home First Development in just four years, spanning 12 cities and over 1,000 units across Oregon. However, their work in Corvallis is far from over.
With 400 additional affordable housing units currently in development, the city is actively working toward long-term solutions. Home First and Green Light recently secured funding for 54 of these units, with support from partners like Corvallis for Refugees, the Linn Benton Housing Authority, and the Corvallis School District.
Community Support and Resources
Local nonprofit organizations are stepping in to support new residents. Casa Latinos Unidos, for example, is providing wraparound services to help immigrants and low-income individuals settle into their new homes.
“Sometimes we see first-generational immigrants, and so we’re able to get them settled in,” said Alejandra Sanchez, executive director of Casa Latinos Unidos. “We were asked for a partnership to be able to bring our wrap-around system navigation services to residents here, including digital classes, English literacy classes, financial classes, and opportunities to really empower individuals. We offer emergency utility and rental assistance in order to be able to keep people housed.”
As Corvallis continues its efforts to expand affordable housing, projects like Rivergreen Landing demonstrate how collaboration between government, private developers, and community organizations can help address housing shortages and create opportunities for residents.