April 4, 2018
Page 9
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
The Meyer Memorial Trust, one of the largest private foundations in Oregon, has purchased property at North Tillamook Street and Vancouver Avenue to build a new
headquarters, pledging support for the historic African American neighborhood as its future home and ongoing initiatives to help the community remain affordable,
thriving and diverse.
Meyer Trust to Build in Albina
New headquarters
to build on
equity mission
The largest private foundation in Or-
egon, The Meyer Memorial Trust, has
purchased property in the historically
African American Albina neighbor-
hood of inner north Portland to build a
new headquarters as part of its growing
commitment to equity.
The Meyer Trust will be moving
from leased office space in the Pearl
District, downtown, to the corner of
North Tillamook Street and North Van-
couver Avenue after construction is
completed in early 2020, officials with
the charity announced recently.
The location was chosen for its cen-
tral location and rich history, allowing
for closer interaction with grantees,
partners and the community, officials
said. The Albina community also
boasts a wide array of transportation
options, including proximity to TriMet
bus and light-rail, ease of walkability
and bike-ability.
Started by the late Fred G. Meyer,
founder of Fred Meyer stores, the foun-
dation refocused its mission on equity
a few years ago. The trust’s board of
trustees, staff and leadership are now
predominately people of color.
Meyer board member Mitch Hor-
necker said the decision to build a new
Meyer headquarters is a good financial
and community investment.
Doug Stamm, Meyer’s chief execu-
tive officer, said Meyer’s mission and
values will be manifested in the design,
including the design process and con-
tracting.
“Albina is a community whose rich
history we intend to honor through
our ongoing commitment to equity,”
Stamm said. “Many of our partners
work and are based in the neighbor-
hood where our founder, then known
by his birth name Frederick Grubmey-
er, set down his own Oregon roots. A
significant number of our staff also
live in north and northeast Portland. It
means so much for Meyer Memorial
Trust to invest directly into this pivotal
place.”
Early design plans are for a three-sto-
ry structure with roughly 20,000 square
feet of workspace. But the final plans
for the building will be developed and
finalized following conversations with
community leaders, faith and nonprofit
leaders and foundation staff.
Meyer is determined to be a good
neighbor in a neighborhood that has
experienced destabilizing waves of ur-
ban renewal and gentrification.
“As new neighbors, we look forward
to supporting efforts by many people
and organizations, including the Albina
Vision Trust, to ensure that as Albina
evolves toward an exciting future, it
remains an affordable, thriving and di-
verse central city community,” Stamm
said.