News

ARTICLE
Date ArticleType
1/8/2019 Member News

HBA’s participation in Portland’s Deconstruction Advisory Committee useful in recently awarded Metro Innovation & Investment grant


The HBA, in partnership with Earth Advantage (EA) and Reuse Consulting, was recently awarded a Metro Investment and Innovation grant: Overcoming Barriers in Deconstruction: Contractor Capacity Building. The HBA, along with Reuse Consulting and EA, will provide both group and individualized consultation, training and education to contractors on deconstruction projects in the tri-county metro area. The objectives are to reduce the amount and toxicity of waste, strengthen the regions reuse services and infrastructure, and encourage new deconstruction industry participates from communities of color and other historically underrepresented groups.

The HBA’s continued participation on the City of Portland Deconstruction Advisory Committee (DAG) will enhance its role with the Metro grant. By understanding the most current Portland market for existing deconstruction contractors, many of whom also work throughout the metro region, the HBA will best execute its grant responsibilities of surveying and vetting emerging contractors and projects. The HBA also provided feedback to the most recent December 2018 DAG meeting, which explored possible mandatory deconstruction ordinance changes including increasing the year-built threshold from 1916 to upwards of 1940. Such an ordinance change could increase deconstruction activity in the City, depending on proposed local as well as state-mandated zoning code changes, and the housing market generally. The regional association is working closely with the OHBA to track draft 2019 state-level legislation, such as allowing for increased density on single family zones, which could affect market demand for redevelopment activity in the larger metro region.