On Tuesday, local leaders broke ground along West Bay Street in the city's westside on
the much-anticipated "Sustainable Fellwood" development.

That's a public-private effort, made possible by $8 million in tax credits, to transform the
dreary Fellwood Homes public housing project into a vibrant, mixed-used and
environmentally friendly neighborhood of affordable housing.

Constructing new housing in the current economic climate may raise eyebrows in some
circles, but not among those who will build and lease the 100 or so apartments in this
conveniently located area just west of downtown.

There's no slump in the number of people who need affordable housing.

Indeed, once this $50-million project is finished, don't be surprised to see a
rush of residents.

Some 40 percent of the units on the 26-acre, shaded site will be set aside for
low-income residents who qualify for public housing.

Another 40 percent will be reserved for families who make up to $34,560 (60 percent
of the average median income in this area). The remaining 20 percent of the residents
will pay market rate.

The old government model of packing poor, often desperate people into concentrated
areas of public housing has failed on many fronts.

Sustainable Fellwood represents a new way of thinking. And living.