Washington County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 6, to send $8.3 million toward housing projects, including $2.85 million for a transitional housing facility on Cornell Road in Hillsboro.

The four-member board approved both measures at its first full meeting since former Chair Kathryn Harrington resigned Friday, Oct. 2. Vice Chair Jerry Willey presided over the session at the Charles D. Cameron Public Services Building in Hillsboro.

The larger allocation, approved 4-0, directs $5.5 million in Metro Affordable Housing Bond interest earnings to four developments: Plambeck Gardens ($1.3 million), Woodland Hearth ($1.55 million), Heartwood Commons ($2.37 million) and Aloha 209th ($281,000). Commissioner Pam Treece moved the measure; Commissioner Nafisa Fai seconded it.

Molly Rogers, director of Housing Services, and Shannon Wilson, a program manager in the Office of Community Development, presented the bond allocation to the board. Community partner Rachael Duke also spoke in support, according to meeting minutes.

The second measure steers $2.851 million in one-time Supportive Housing Services funds to the Housing Authority of Washington County for the Cornell Road Recovery Transitional Housing project. The project is a renovation of the former DoubleTree Hotel at 15402 NW Cornell Rd. Commissioner Jason Snider moved the item; Treece seconded. It passed 4-0 on the consent agenda.

The total project budget now stands at $33.6 million, funded primarily through a $31.1 million SHS capital loan and a $2.5 million state grant, according to county agenda documents. Cost increases stemmed from security upgrades, HVAC work, pool and plumbing repairs, and building infrastructure problems discovered after the building envelope was opened.

The Housing Authority purchased the former hotel to create recovery transitional housing, Cedar Mill News reported. A Good Neighbor Agreement is in place, and Helping Hands serves as the on-site services provider.

The Oct. 6 meeting was the board's first substantive session since Harrington stepped down. She resigned after a Sept. 15 incident in which she directed an obscene gesture at Fai during a work session, as KGW first reported. When the county announced the resignation Sept. 21, Snider said the board would "move work forward without interruption in service to the community and employees." Willey will continue presiding until a new chair is elected Nov. 3 and sworn in Jan. 3, 2027.

Both Fai and Treece are running for the open chair seat. As we reported Oct. 3, Treece has outraised Fai in the race.

A data center resolution was pulled from the Oct. 6 agenda the day before. Commissioners voted 4-0 at the meeting to schedule that item for an Oct. 20 work session, with possible approval at the Oct. 27 board meeting.