Unlocking Commercial Sites for Housing with SB 8: Two Oregon Case Studies

A major barrier to creating new housing is finding well-located, level sites that are properly zoned, connected to infrastructure, and near services. Many of the best undeveloped sites remain idle because they are zoned for retail or office, or require housing over commercial. Ground-floor retail adds considerable cost, while the space often commands low rents or sits vacant. Some zoning maps, drawn decades ago and due for updates, still reserve parcels for retail in locations that are not viable, leaving properties underused.

The State of Oregon took a major step forward in late 2021 with Senate Bill 8, which allows affordable housing outright on commercially zoned properties. The law opens well-located, infrastructure-served parcels that had been limited by outdated commercial zoning. Green Light applied SB 8 at Rivergreen Landing Apartments in Corvallis, Oregon’s first SB 8 project, by converting a commercially zoned parcel that had been vacant for 20 years into 84 family homes in a location that clearly fit housing: surrounded by existing housing on all sides and diagonally across from Riverbend Park, which includes a playground, an open field, and tennis and basketball courts.

We are thrilled to announce the groundbreaking of our second SB 8 project in the City of North Plains, Oregon: North Meridian Apartments. North Meridian will deliver 59 affordable apartment homes and is being developed in partnership with Centro Cultural, a cornerstone of Washington County since 1972. Founded by farmworkers and activists, Centro has grown into a regional leader advancing justice and equity for Latino and immigrant communities. With a dedicated on-site office and gathering space, Centro’s team will provide bilingual, culturally specific resident services that connect families to resources, strengthen housing stability, and build a vibrant, resilient community. Core programs will focus on workforce training, education, small-business support, and health and wellness.

“We are honored to partner in this important and innovative housing project in North Plains. We have deep roots in local agriculture here for over six decades, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to the economy and vibrancy of this beautiful community.”

Maria Caballero Rubio, Executive Director of Centro Cultural

This project was made possible through the leadership of the State of Oregon and the collaboration of partners including Oregon Housing & Community Services (OHCS), Home First Development, Centro Cultural, KeyBank, Beaudin Construction, C2K Architecture, Inc., NAMC-OR, Rubitone Development Services, Energy Trust of Oregon, Evergreen Community Partners, Tabor Design Group, Humber Design Group, Inc., M-Group, LAURUS DESIGNS, LLC, Elliott, Ostrander & Preston, P.C., Stoel Rives LLP, WFG National Title Insurance Company, and State of Assembly. We are deeply grateful to everyone helping bring this vision to life, and we can’t wait to see North Meridian Apartments rise!