Developed and owned by Home Forward, Hazel Ying Lee Apartments (formerly 3000 Powell) is a 210-unit affordable housing community funded through Portland’s voter-approved 2016 Housing Bond. Situated along the busy Powell Boulevard corridor in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood, the development brings much-needed housing to Southeast Portland while creating a series of welcoming outdoor spaces that offer residents respite from the surrounding urban environment.
The building’s distinctive X-shaped configuration organizes the site into a series of open spaces, balancing residential density with opportunities for gathering, recreation, and quiet retreat. Ground Workshop’s landscape design is anchored by two courtyards connected through a central circulation spine, establishing a clear spatial framework that unifies the development. A sequence of outdoor rooms unfolds along this connector, offering a range of experiences from communal activity to more intimate moments of respite.
Within the primary residential courtyard, layered planting softens the building’s geometry and introduces texture, seasonal interest, and a sense of enclosure. An amenity terrace, children's play area, and resident gardens provide opportunities for recreation, social connection, and everyday interaction, extending the living environment beyond the walls of the building.
Through thoughtful spatial organization, carefully considered planting, and a balance of active and passive spaces, the landscape transforms a dense urban site into a welcoming residential environment—one that reinforces the importance of access to meaningful outdoor space in affordable housing.
Ground Workshop is proud to be part of a collaborative team that includes Home Forward, Holst Architecture, KPFF and Colas Construction.
Ground Workshop team: Tommy Solomon, Andrew Schneider, Tom Wortman, Hayley Chung