Portland Orders Evacuation of Toxic Franklin Towers
Residents must relocate from the historic building for a major $50 million renovation project.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Apartments
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The Portland Housing Authority has ordered the evacuation of Franklin Towers after testing revealed polychlorinated biphenyls in the building, soil, and air. Approximately 150 low-income residents must move while the 57-year-old facility undergoes necessary environmental remediation.
Why it matters
The evacuation is required to safely address toxic chemical contamination and complete a long-delayed renovation that aims to improve energy efficiency and modernize building systems. The project is critical to maintaining functional housing for residents in the historic high-rise.
The 57-year-old building houses 150 low-income residents in a structure added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024. Residents currently pay 30% of their income toward rent and will have all moving costs covered by the housing authority.
The players
Portland Housing Authority
This local agency is responsible for managing public housing resources and coordinating the relocation of Franklin Towers residents.
The details
The Portland Housing Authority is working with local organizations to secure temporary homes for residents of the 16-story apartment complex. The massive overhaul, first initiated following a 2022 electrical outage, requires the building to be completely vacated to ensure safety during the removal of hazardous materials.
Timeline
Franklin Towers was built in 1969.
A weekslong electrical outage occurred in the building in 2022.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.
The housing authority issued the official evacuation notice to residents on October 6, 2026.
The relocation process is expected to span the next six months.
Culture Shift
This project highlights the growing tension between preserving urban historical architecture and the urgent necessity of retrofitting aging structures to meet modern environmental safety standards. The move reflects a broader trend of balancing heritage conservation with the requirement for energy-efficient, safe, and modern low-income housing.
Residents of Franklin Towers will have their moving costs covered by the housing authority and will maintain their current housing subsidies throughout the relocation. The process is expected to disrupt living arrangements for the next six months as remediation and renovation work proceeds.
The takeaway
Affected residents are encouraged to maintain close contact with the housing authority to ensure their temporary housing placements meet their specific needs. The long-term goal of this project is to create a safer and more efficient living environment for low-income tenants in Portland.
Further reading
For more context on local residential developments, visit the Portland Apartments page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Portland Press Herald.
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