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Portland

Portland Delays Jade District Housing Development

Metro pauses developer selection at 2815 SE 90th Pl. after residents petition for a public park.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in National Parks

Bold vector editorial illustration showing an urban lot divided between a green patch of grass and a pile of bricks.
Metro has postponed the developer selection process for a Portland housing site for one year as residents advocate for converting the lot into a park. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In your community, should vacant public land be prioritized for housing or green space?

Metro has postponed its developer selection process for a 1.47-acre property in Portland's Jade District for one year. The delay follows a petition from residents seeking to convert the transit-adjacent site into a public park rather than housing.

Why it matters

Metro's Transit-Oriented Development program is designed to build affordable housing near transit corridors and does not currently fund park development or maintenance. The city faces significant pressure to balance infrastructure needs as Portland Parks & Recreation navigates potential budget constraints.

The 1.47-acre site at 2815 SE 90th Pl. is located near the MAX Green Line, with park maintenance estimated at $100,000 annually. Portland Parks & Recreation currently faces up to $15 million in potential budget reductions for fiscal year 2027.

The players

Metro

This is the regional government body serving the Portland metropolitan area that manages transit-oriented development and regional planning.

Portland Parks & Recreation

This is the city department responsible for managing the municipal park system and providing recreational opportunities for residents.

APANO

The Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon is a social justice organization currently coordinating community feedback on the land use.

The details

While the EPA Greening the Jade initiative identified the parcel as a potential park location in 2018, the site is currently slated for housing. APANO is now gathering resident feedback through a community survey to determine if a viable alternative buyer can be found to take over the project.

Timeline

  1. The EPA first identified the site for a potential park in 2018.

  2. Metro purchased the property in the fall of 2025.

  3. A March 9, 2026, briefing memo identified the area as underserved.

  4. Residents petitioned officials for green space in March 2026.

  5. The community survey closes on November 5, 2026.

Travel Outlook

The city's current land-use strategy aligns with the goals set by the EPA Greening the Jade initiative, though competing housing demands complicate implementation. This dispute reflects broader challenges in urban planning as cities attempt to balance green space accessibility against density targets.

Residents should participate in the community survey by November 5, 2026, to ensure their feedback on the Jade District property is included in the review. The final decision on the site could determine future access to public green space near local transit lines for years to come.

The takeaway

Balancing the need for affordable housing near transit with the demand for neighborhood parks remains a core challenge for urban development in Portland. Residents should monitor future public briefings to track how budget constraints impact the feasibility of new green spaces.

What happens next

The community survey regarding the future of the property closes on November 5, 2026.

Further reading

Learn more about local green spaces on the National Parks section page.

More information

Residents can submit their input through the community survey for property feedback to assist in the land-use evaluation.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Southeast Examiner of Portland Oregon.

Live Poll

In your community, should vacant public land be prioritized for housing or green space?