Sparrow Street Site (TriMet Remnant Lot)

Overview

The Sparrow Street Site is a triangle-shaped opportunity site, located at the corner of SE Sparrow Street and SE 26th Avenue in the Island Station Neighborhood District Association. In March 2019, the city acquired the site from TriMet for $33,287 for the purpose of developing housing to meet the city’s affordable housing goals as outlined in the affordable housing strategy.

City Council Meetings

Development Goals & Request for Qualifications

City Council set project goals for the redevelopment of the Sparrow Site on June 1, 2021, and discussed updates to these goals on September 17, 2024. These goals include:

  1. Affordable Housing.
    • In 2021, Council adopted a goal of pursuing "income restricted rental units or affordable homeownership opportunities that serve households earning 60% or less of AMI. Preference for a project that serves lower income and 0-30% households. Consideration will be given for units that serve households earning 80% or less AMI, if it would result in additional 0-30% units."
    • In 2024, Council discussed updating this goal to pursuing a land trust homeownership model on the site that serves households earning 60%-80% AMI, with preference to the lowest AMI possible. 
  2. Unit Size.
    • In 2021, Council adopted a goal of "preference for the project to include 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units."
    • In 2024, Council discussed reducing the specificity on unit size and considering language like "family size" units.
  3. Minority / Women Business Enterprise Contracting.
    • In 2021, Council adopted a goal of "preference for a development team that will make a good faith effort to use Minority / Women Business Enterprises (MWESB) in contracting."
    • In 2024, Council discussed updating this goal to a statement that calls for pursuing equity in the development agreement that more broadly expands opportunities for non-traditional partners to be involved. 
  4. Preservation of Tree Canopy. Project design that will minimize the impact of development on the tree canopy.
  5. Sustainable Design. Project that uses sustainable and energy efficient design and construction methods. 
  6. Affirmative outreach. Development team that will create an affirmative outreach plan to provide information and attract eligible persons to live in the development from all racial, ethnic, and gender groups in the housing market area. 
  7. City of Milwaukie Financing.
    • ​​​​​​​In 2021, Council adopted a goal of "project that minimizes the need for city financing while delivering on project goals."
    • In 2024, Council discussed amending this goal to potentially require the site be operated as a land trust model. 
  8. Project Delivery. Development team with experience in project delivery and that can begin construction as soon as practicable. 

Next, City Council will further discuss community land trust models and goals for the project at their December 10, 2024 study session. Updated project goals are expected to be adopted in early 2025. 

Site Clean Up

The Sparrow Street Site was formerly a construction staging area and contains petroleum-contaminated soil. The city has been working with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and have completed a Prospective Purchaser Agreement (PPA).  The PPA is a tool for ensuring expedited cleanup of a contaminated property and encourages property transactions that would otherwise not likely occur because of liabilities associated with purchasing a contaminated site. The PPA agreement and summary judgment for this site requires the city to clean up the property and prepared the site for residential use. The city received a grant from Metro to perform a Phase 1 and Phase 2 Environmental Assessment, this work was completed in 20XX.

The city has received a $60,000 Business Oregon for a Technical Assistance grant to assist with the costs for the reimbursement of the PPA, site design, community engagement, and the development of a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) and a Contaminated Media Management Plan (CMMP). The selected development partner will work with city staff to engage with the community and to develop a site design, a  (RAP) and a  (CMMP), as required by DEQ. 

Access Study

The city has contracted with HPRR to conduct survey work and develop a conceptual design for access to the Sparrow site from 26th Avenue, a design for frontage improvements on Sparrow, and improved pedestiran connections. This conceptual design process will provide important information about site access, the impacts and costs associated with it. The city is communicating with adjacent property owners about the study. Once a concept has been developed and vetted with all impacted parties, the concepts will be priced and shared with the community for feedback. 

CONTACT
communitydevelopment@milwaukieoregon.gov
503.786.7600

Supporting Documents

PDF icon sparrow_site_1-pager_11.2020_1.pdf (1 MB)