Portland Public Schools Moves Forward with $16MM Center for Black Student Excellence Property Purchase

District seeks board approval for Albina neighborhood building to house ambitious educational initiative

Portland Public Schools is requesting board approval to purchase a 72,000-square-foot mixed-use property in Portland’s historic Albina neighborhood for $16 million to serve as the permanent home for its Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE).

The One North property, located at 3506-3514 N. Vancouver Avenue and 25 N. Fremont Street, would fulfill a key component of the district’s $60 million CBSE initiative approved by voters in November 2020 bond measures. The purchase price exceeds the property’s May 2025 appraised value of $15.2 million by $800,000, though district officials argue the premium reflects current market conditions and the strategic importance of the Albina location.