Mary Schoen-Clark Leads Affordable Housing in Portland

Schoen-Clark has directed Sabin CDC since 2013, overseeing major local housing expansions.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in People

Contemporary urban infill residential building with cedar and brick facade in a quiet, overcast neighborhood street. — Mary Schoen-Clark, executive director of Sabin CDC, has overseen significant affordable housing expansions and residential growth throughout Portland since 2013. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Since 2013, Mary Schoen-Clark has served as the executive director of the Portland-based Sabin CDC. She brings three decades of experience in the affordable housing sector to her role leading the organization.

Why it matters

Schoen-Clark has significantly reshaped the organization's approach to local property management and development, shifting operations in-house to support residential growth in Portland.

Schoen-Clark has leveraged 30 years of industry experience to deliver 41 affordable units through the Harvey Rice Heritage project. The organization is now moving toward a 78-unit development to replace a smaller 22-unit structure.

The players

Mary Schoen-Clark

She is the executive director of Sabin CDC and a board member for the Iron Tribe Network.

Sabin CDC

This is a Portland-based organization focused on the development and management of affordable housing.

Scott Edwards Architecture

This firm partnered with Sabin CDC to design the Harvey Rice Heritage housing project.

Iron Tribe Network

This organization supports community members and lists Mary Schoen-Clark as a board member.

The details

Sabin CDC partnered with Scott Edwards Architecture to complete the Harvey Rice Heritage project, which successfully integrated two urban infill sites. Schoen-Clark also serves on the board of the Iron Tribe Network.

Mary Schoen-Clark began her tenure as executive director in 2013.
Previous new housing development by the organization occurred in the 1990s.

Market Landscape

The Nicole Sandoval project adopts the Path-to-Net-Zero energy standards as a benchmark for modern sustainable urban housing development. This initiative positions Sabin CDC to align its future inventory with high-efficiency standards that are increasingly required in competitive municipal markets.

Local residents in Portland may see an increase in available housing as the organization advances its 78-unit project. These developments provide additional options for affordable living within the city limits.

The takeaway

Effective leadership in community development requires balancing decades of industry experience with modern sustainable building practices. Residents can look toward these energy-efficient projects as a standard for future neighborhood growth.