The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on June 26 unanimously approved a resolution that supports the development of a community-informed proposal for redeveloping the County-owned Walnut Park Complex in Northeast Portland.
This decision aligns with the long-standing call from many people in Portland's Black community for community-based restoration efforts in the area. The Board's approval affirms its commitment to developing a proposal that meets both County priorities and community needs, which will then be brought back to the Board for consideration.
The Walnut Park area, a neighborhood within the Albina district — centered around the intersection of Northeast Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Boulevard and Northeast Killingsworth Street — is a historic commercial hub of small businesses and an anchor point for the Black community in Portland.
Ray Leary, a lifelong Walnut Park community member, recalled that in 1968, this intersection still housed major retailers like Fred Meyer, U.S. Bank and J.C. Penney, which contributed to the integration and growth of Albina beyond its redlined origins.
“But by 1970, after a series of dreaded public policy initiatives, the decline of Albina set in, which ultimately led to the displacement and gentrification that is now our reality,” said Leary. He added that these policies capitalized on the departure of businesses like Fred Meyer, falsely designating Albina as a "blighted community." This designation, Leary stated, devalued property and "set the stage for the total cultural transformation of a once-beloved community."
Leary emphasized that countless studies, surveys, committees and task forces have for decades recognized the urgent need for revitalizing action in this neighborhood.
"We have remained diligently hopeful for the chance to reimagine a new economic engine: one that could attract other long desired goods and services by establishing a new standard of delivery," Leary said.
“What is before us is not an insurmountable crisis, but a rare opportunity to finally deliver on decades of broken promises and countless rivers of displacement tears, to finally stop kicking the can of unfulfilled commitments and finally do right by the most vulnerable of our community.”
The present-day efforts to redevelop MLK Boulevard began in 1997 when the Portland Development Commission (now Prosper Portland) adopted the “MLK Commercial Development Strategy” and began to assemble large commercial parcels of land. The plan was to ensure that these properties eventually get developed in ways that help restore commercial vitality to the Black community and job-creation potential of MLK Boulevard.
While this initial vision has yet to be fully realized, it has been kept alive through multiple iterations of civic planning, including the King Neighborhood Commercial Center Development Strategy (2000), MLK Boulevard Economic Development Study (2007) and Black Investment Consortium for Economic Progress’ “Soul District” Plan (2018).
Despite decades of planning and significant investment by the community, the inaction of public institutions, limited resourcing and shifting priorities have stalled the intended redevelopment of the area.
At the southwest corner of MLK Jr. Boulevard and Killingsworth Street sits the Walnut Park Complex, which is owned and operated by Multnomah County. The building houses the Northeast Health Center, a dental clinic, a Meals on Wheels dining center, and the Urban League of Portland’s Multicultural Senior Center. It is also home to County offices and service centers, including the Department of County Human Services, its Aging, Disability and Veterans Services Division and a Homeless Services Department shelter.
“Walnut Park is centrally located, serves an extremely diverse community, and continues to be a trusted hub for those particularly in the Black community, even as folks have moved out east to other places, to come back to get their services in this location,” said Health Department Director Rachael Banks.
The Northeast Health Center is one of the original Community Health Centers in the Multnomah County Health system.
“Northeast [Health Center] still maintains the largest African American and Black patient population from our Health Centers in the County, centering its services for this population through its targeted universalism approach,” said Banks.
In 2018, the County evaluated future development options for the Walnut Park Complex, engaging community members, service recipients and staff. The conceptual plan included a mix of housing, ground-floor commercial spaces, offices, community spaces, and updated and expanded County services.
That process revealed that many displaced Black and African American former residents continue to return to the complex for services, underscoring the deep emotional and historical significance of the location.
“What’s amazing is that there are many people who don't live in the neighborhood anymore who come back to this site because they have legacy here,” said Walnut Park community member and community developer Jeana Woolley. “They feel safe on this site, their friends are still here. It's a place where people feel at home. And that's partly because of the people that you have working there.”
Echoing previous County facility assessments, staff and service users shared their desire for significant modernization or replacements to the 1951 building. Since the 2018 study, the County has explored various cost and financing options and aims to partner with community members to advance the redevelopment project.
Garet Prior, a senior advisor on infrastructure to Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, outlined the next steps. The Board will vote on July 24 to approve a Request For Proposal for a Development Partner, which will be followed by a three-month competitive bidding window. Starting October 2025, the chosen Development Partner will spend the next year and a half developing a proposal for redeveloping the Walnut Park Complex, which will then be presented to the Board for adoption.
Board comments
Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon shared that he grew up in the neighborhood, lightheartedly remarking that he is “traumatized because I got my first vaccines [there] at the age of three there.” He added, more seriously, that "I want us to be intentionally involved in the future discussions moving forward. And thank you to the elders for remaining consistent over the last 40-plus years.”
“There's always a time for study and research, and then there's a time for action, and I'm glad we're at… a time for action,” said Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards. “I support the County being part of this historic opportunity and I look forward to a summer and fall schedule of us moving forward.”
“This is a rare opportunity for us as a commission to ensure that the Black community actually sees improvements that we’ve been waiting for for decades,” said Commissioner Shannon Singleton. “We really have a joyous obligation to get this done, so I am fully committed to seeing this transformation and working with partners to work on this site and look forward to our conversation in July.”
“Although the services have always been great, the building itself has not been in a condition appropriate for the services being provided,” said Commissioner Meghan Moyer. “As we start to hopefully get real concrete next steps, I’m extremely focused on making sure that this does not feel like an imposed project, but one in which the community is actively engaging and directing.”
Chair Vega Pederson thanked advocates, like Leary and Woolley, for their unwavering dedication to fulfilling the potential and promise of Walnut Park.
“You’ve been through a lot, but you’ve shown up every time folks have asked and I appreciate the continuing belief in us to take this chance to move it forward and say ‘yes’ to being involved in this, because you have said ‘yes’ so many times before.” she said.
“This is an opportunity to take a look at the business opportunities, the social services opportunities, and build something really incredible. I'm grateful that Multnomah County gets to play this part in it.”
