The Columbia Press
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CMH: Fundraiser kicks off expansion
Continued from Page 1
Kylie Horning/Willow Wisp Photography
Event organizers were, left to right, Noelle Lund,
Amber Hill, Kurtis Birdeno, Mark Kujala, Michelle
Murray, Alliah Wilson and Kierstin Baughman.
ate food prepared by the hospital’s Nu-
trition Services Department.
“I am always amazed by the incredible
level of generosity in this community
and from our supporters,” Thorsen said.
“We live and work in a special place, and
CMH is honored and grateful for this
support.”
Those kick-starting the fundraiser were
former CMH Board Chair Constance
Waisanen, $100,000; the Samuel S.
Johnson Foundation, $25,000; and the
Jordan Poyer Foundation, $10,000.
Poyer also donated an autographed jer-
sey and helmet that raised $14,000.
May 13, 2022
Trillium: Project under construction
Continued from Page 1
Housing Alternatives, North-
west Oregon Housing Associates
(NOHA), Emmons Design, Clat-
sop County, and the city of War-
renton. Walsh Construction of
Portland is primary contractor.
“There’s a lot of state financing
coming in to make it happen,”
Emmons said. “I can’t speak
more highly about this team.
Walsh has been really working to
give as much work as possible to
local contractors. We’re going to
get 42 families housed.”
Emmons, an advocate for af-
fordable housing as well as hous-
ing for the homeless, also worked
on housing proposal at Heritage
Square in downtown Astoria.
The project would have put 33
microunits and 64 apartments
downtown, but it was rejected last
month by the Astoria City Council.
“It was a great opportunity, and
we had a few people who were
just adamant about not doing
anything there,” he said. “There’s
a huge need for housing and ev-
erybody’s complaining about
homelessness. We come up with
a solution and it’s turned down.
So, kudos to Warrenton for help-
ing with affordable housing.”
Every community in the
county is housing-challenged,
he said. Rent is high and few
units are available. Business-
es are begging for affordable
housing for workers.
“Trillium didn’t have that
opposition in any way, shape,
or form,” Emmons said of the
not-in-my-backyard
resis-
tance to low-income housing.
“I really appreciate the city of
Warrenton. They were good to
work with. They saw the need.
They saw it as a benefit to lo-
cal businesses. They were very
supportive of our project. The
community was as well.”
Trillium’s apartments will
be small, but serviceable. A
one-bedroom is 600 square
feet, with two- and three-bed-
room units at 800 and 1,000
square feet. NOHA will own
the project and rent to families
and individuals most at need
at a discounted rate.
A playground, community
garden, and community room
will support families and chil-
dren.
Keeping construction costs
down was a challenge due to
supply chain issues and la-
bor, Emmons said, but costs
are now set and a pad for the
foundation and first floor near
completion. The project is ex-
pected to be finished by early
summer 2023.
“We’re kicking off Chelsea
Gardens. We’re the first project
in there,” Emmons said. “We’re
getting in a lot of infrastructure
that’s going to help get other
projects in there as well.”