community development
Maximizing social and environmental equity and community self-determination.
the health of our environment and communities are naturally interconnected
serving the needs and values of those who live here
hamilton
Working collaboratively with the Town of Hamilton, Forterra has purchased a 48-acre upland parcel for a sustainable, community development that gives residents the choice to move out of the floodplain and enables restoration of the Skagit River – key to threatened Chinook salmon and orca populations. The design concept embodies sustainability and honors the town’s rich history, culture and natural assets. We aim to enable a development that can serve as a model for climate adaptation.
hilltop
Invited in by the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma, Forterra facilitated the reclamation of an entire city block at 1105 MLK, with Black culture and businesses at the forefront of our efforts. Working with Fab-5, Tacoma Housing Authority, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and Mithun Architects, Forterra, on behalf of the Strong Communities Funds, spearheaded an extensive community engagement process that has enabled the Funds to identify community priorities and gain input and support for a potential conceptual design of the project. The heart of the project is centered on the needs and aspirations of the Hilltop community. The Funds are working to transition this property to a qualified developer to enable development of affordable and sustainable market-rate housing and local business space.
roslyn
The Roslyn Downtown Association reached out to Forterra about an opportunity to purchase the historic #4 Mine site, untouched since the ‘70s, for its potential to support affordable housing, community green space and wetlands restoration. Forterra is working with the community and the Yakama Nation to enable sustainable and affordable housing while also protecting and celebrating the living cultural connections of the town and of the Yakama Nation to this land.
wadajir
The Abu Bakr Islamic Center turned to Forterra for help in buying an old motel across from their mosque – seeing the opportunity for an inclusive development in Tukwila. Through its Strong Communities Fund I, Forterra purchased the property and is now exploring with Abu Bakr the best way possible to enable sustainable development of affordable housing and micro-retail space.
building trust through transparency
The urgency and impact of Forterra’s mission demands that we set audacious goals.
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Our commitment to the communities we serve demands that we take the humility to acknowledge when we must find practical solutions to move ahead.
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In striking the balance between audacity and humility, we’ve sometimes made mistakes.
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Our commitments to mission and to the people we are privileged to work alongside, demand of us the courage to listen to our stakeholders and to seek out community wisdom.
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Our aspirations to protect land for good challenge us to own our mistakes, seek to make amends, and continue to grow.
