Mounting Pushback: Portland Community Opposition Splits Over New Housing, Development Plans

Proposals for two major apartment complexes in Sellwood and St. Johns hit a wall this week, with local residents mounting highly organized opposition campaigns to contest a surge in multi-family developments across Portland's cherished neighborhoods.

The tug-of-war is set against the city’s struggle with soaring rents and a housing supply gap that has left middle-income families squeezed and younger residents priced out of the market. With city officials weighing policy reforms and zoning changes, the stand-off in these neighborhoods could reshape how Portland builds — and who gets to stay.

Sellwood and St. Johns Become Flashpoints

On Monday night, more than 120 neighbors crowded into the Sellwood Community Center for a hastily scheduled town hall organized by the Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League. Tempers flared as local residents accused developer HazelTree Partners of “erasing neighborhood character” with its plan for a five-story, 89-unit apartment building set to replace two pre-1940 homes on SE 13th Avenue. Meanwhile, in St. Johns, the North Portland Community Association circulated a petition — which gathered over 550 signatures in under three days — urging the Planning and Sustainability Commission to reject a 112-unit project slated for Lombard Street, citing concerns about parking, displacement, and traffic congestion. Both projects have submitted applications under new citywide rules that relax density limits near transit corridors and require a fraction of affordable units.

The city’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability says these fights are becoming the norm. Data released last week show Portland approved permits for 4,230 new apartments in 2025, a sharp increase compared to 2,740 units greenlit in 2023. Median monthly rent for a new one-bedroom now hovers at $1,780, according to Metro Multifamily Market Insights — up nearly 11% in two years. Proponents argue that blocking new supply will squeeze prices even higher; opponents counter that bulk developments drive up land values and erode historic streetscapes, threatening to oust longtime residents.

What’s Next for Neighborhoods at a Crossroads?

Planners at City Hall face an uneasy summer. The Planning and Sustainability Commission meets July 17 to consider the Sellwood and St. Johns plans, with outcomes likely to set precedent for projects in Laurelhurst, Rose City Park, and beyond. Residents wanting input can file public comments through the city’s online portal or attend upcoming neighborhood association meetings — the full July calendar is listed at portlandoregon.gov/bps. Meanwhile, developers hint they may appeal blockages to the State Land Use Board if conditions tighten further.

Whatever happens, Portlanders should expect the debate to intensify as the city chases its stated target of adding 20,000 more housing units by 2030. For would-be homebuyers and renters facing limited options this summer, the question is urgent: How — and where — will Portland choose to grow next?