Catholic Charities of western Oregon has begun construction on the former site of the St. Vincent de Paul of Portland headquarters in Southeast Portland, turning the former food bank and social service organization’s property into affordable housing and a Catholic Charities service center.

As part of a financial reorganization which began with the closure of its thrift stores in 2004, the St. Vincent de Paul Society is selling the property to Catholic Charities, looking to relocate to a more efficient site, say officials of the 137-year-old Catholic lay organization.

Catholic Charities purchased a 1.1 acre parcel of land across the street from the St. Vincent de Paul site in 2004 for $450,000 to build Kateri Park, a 50-unit affordable housing complex.

The new site across the street, bordering 28th Avenue and Powell Boulevard, will complete the sale of the 2.9 acres, which Catholic Charities purchased for $2.5 million.

“We were very pleased to work with St. Vincent de Paul,” said Dennis Keenan, executive director of Catholic Charities. “The sale allowed for them to have some capital to focus on their mission, and it provided us a new site to continue our housing initiatives.”

The St. Vincent de Paul Society has since relocated to the 5100 block of Southeast Milwaukie Avenue to a former olive business.

The Powell property of Catholic Charities will house a new 70-unit affordable housing complex called Esperanza Court.

The organization is also rehabbing a late 19th century eight-unit Victorian house facing Powell, which will be converted into studio and one bedroom apartments and will be called Howard House, after Archbishop Edward Howard.

Next to Howard House a four-plex will be constructed containing two-bedroom units.

On the Southeast end of the property, Catholic Charities plans to build a group of rowhouses for sale for low to moderate income buyers.

“We’re trying to pitch in as much as possible to help out with the permanent housing initiative for the City of Portland,” said Keenan. “There are still so many chronically homeless and high need individuals and families out there that need affordable housing.”

The property will also eventually be home to the Catholic Charities Service Center, a future four-story building with basement that will house all of Catholic Charities offices.

Most of the housing, including the Howard House eight-plex and the four-plex (already under construction) will be funded through the city’s recent homeless/housing initiative.

Esperanza Court will be funded through federal low income housing tax credits, Oregon affordable housing tax credits, and Housing and Urban Development dollars.

Portland-based Lundin Cole Architects are overseeing the project.

The general contractor is Seabold Construction of Beaverton.