Mixed-Use Cornelius Place Development Breaks Ground

CORNELIUS, OR, September 20, 2017—The City of Cornelius and development partners BRIDGE Housing and Bienestar announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cornelius Place Development will take place Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 14th and Adair.

The announcement celebrates the combined effort of the City of Cornelius, Oregon US and State congressional delegates, Washington County, Oregon METRO, among many other contributors to bring the project to reality.

Construction will begin by the end of the year and is expected to take 13 months to complete.

The multi-use Cornelius Place development will house the expanded Cornelius Public Library including much-needed community convening space, a YMCA center, and 45 affordable apartments for adults age 55 and older.

The new library will provide a variety of services to support children, families, and seniors, including pre-reading and early education programs, student success programs and adult education.

Separately, the Cornelius Public Library is closing in on the last $700K of the $5.2 capital campaign for the library at Cornelius Place. Most recently the library portion of the project received a $70,000 grant from the Walters Family Foundation, giving a boost to the capital fundraising effort.

“Libraries give residents access to literacy and opportunity; they also provide important cultural services, a community gathering place, and in this case, an expansion of affordable housing options,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Cornelius Place will make our community stronger, and I am thrilled to join Cornelius and Washington County leaders for the groundbreaking. I will continue to advocate for programs like the National Endowment for the Humanities and Community Development Block Grants that help build important projects like the one we are celebrating here. The affordable housing crisis affects everyone in Oregon, and it’s going to take all of us working together to solve it.”

“We are thrilled to break ground on the Cornelius Place development and to celebrate the efforts of many organizations to achieve our goal,” said Cornelius Mayor Jef Dalin. “Cornelius Place will be the centerpiece of a revitalized Cornelius downtown, and bring much needed affordable housing to older Washington County residents. The Public Library will offer many resources desired by our diverse population.”

“A public library is an invaluable asset, and co-locating it with affordable homes is a win-win proposition,” said Cynthia Parker, President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing. “This will be a wonderful place to live, where seniors will continue to contribute to the community. We are honored to be part of the effort.”

“We would like to thank our many supporters for their commitment to make Cornelius Place a reality,” said Nathan Teske, Executive Director of Bienestar. “The need for affordable housing in our community is very high, including among lower income older adults who wish to live independently. We look forward to providing the new residents of Cornelius Place with services and resources to make their lives rich and meaningful.”

Cornelius Place is a joint project of the City of Cornelius Public Library, Bienestar and BRIDGE Housing.

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About Bienestar:
Bienestar is a local nonprofit that has provided affordable housing for low-income individuals and families in western Washington County since the 1980s. Founded in 1981 to provide decent, safe housing for farmworker families, Bienestar now owns twelve multi-family properties serving farmworker families and low-income working families.  This development marks Bienestar’s entre into housing and services for older adults.

About BRIDGE Housing:
BRIDGE Housing Corporation, a leading nonprofit developer of affordable housing, creates and manages a range of high-quality, affordable homes for working families and seniors. Since it was founded in 1983, BRIDGE has participated in the development of over 16,000 homes in California and the Pacific Northwest. For more information, visit bridgehousing.com.

About Cornelius Library:
The Cornelius Library is a member of Washington County Cooperative Library Services. For more information about the Cornelius Public Library, please visit http://www.ci.cornelius.or.us/library
 

BRIDGE Housing