Catalyzing Lower Albina: AVT x Portland Public Schools Hearing

In 2021, AVT was successful in acquiring right of first offer and right of first refusal on the Portland Public Schools (PPS) headquarters site, now known as the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center (PEC). In partnership with the Albina Vision Trust, PPS has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to clear the way for a nationally precedent-setting, child-centered redevelopment effort and reactivate the communal fabric of Lower Albina.

Relocating the PEC would enable the development of over 1,000 units of child-centered housing, an education hub, mixed-use commercial opportunity, and abundant communal green space right along the Willamette waterfront.

So what’s keeping us from getting started? Well, first, we need to officially acquire the PPS headquarters building. We’ve done the work to mobilize the community and capital to do so – now, we just need the Portland Schools Board of Education to formally approve relocating and pass a resolution agreeing to a timeline for a transaction.

This coming Tuesday, January 23rd, the PPS Board will be hosting a public work session to discuss the prospect of relocation. The urgency of the current moment cannot be overstated.

Now more than ever, we need our community to show up in numbers to let the board know how important this relocation is to not just Black Portlanders, but all Portlanders.

RSVP to attend below and come ready to stand alongside our beloved community in love and joy. We aren’t gearing up for a war; we’re gearing up for a celebration!

See you all Tuesday!