Victor Merced, director of the Oregon Housing and Community Services, talks about the importance of affordable green building at the grand opening celebration of the Shaver Green building, 375 NE Shaver St. The apartment building, built to Gold LEED standards, is designed for low-income individuals and families. Fourteen of the units will house clients from LifeWorks NW and eight of the units are for people who qualify for Section 8 housing grants. The building has an electric plug-in station for electric cars, a living "green roof" that reduces the heat island effect of a building, pervious paving to reduce rain run-off, used recycled materials and use of native plants that don't require watering. Financed in part by the Portland Development Commission, City of Portland, Housing Authority, Key Community Development, Multnomah County, State of Oregon, and U.S. Bank.
