O’Brien’s team was proud to join the Housing Authority of Lincoln County, Oregon Housing and Community Services, WaFd Bank, and community supporters to celebrate the completion of the Depoe Bay Townhomes, a new affordable housing community nestled along the Oregon Coast.
The ribbon cutting ceremony brought together staff, leadership, and board members across HALC, OHCS, O’Brien, Open Concept Architecture, and WaFd Bank, along with neighbors from the adjacent Whale Cove Inn and representatives from the Newport Chamber of Commerce.
The project was primarily funded through OHCS’s Disaster Recovery and LIFT programs, reflecting a direct investment in communities still recovering from the devastating 2020 wildfires. Neil Barrett of Oregon Housing and Community Services spoke at the ceremony, representing the state’s commitment to rebuilding housing stability along the coast. WaFd Bank also played a key role as a financial partner in bringing the project to completion.
HALC will own and manage the Depoe Bay Townhomes long-term, ensuring the community remains a stable, affordable resource for Lincoln County residents for years to come.
A Response to Real Need
The Depoe Bay Townhomes were developed to address a pressing need for affordable housing on the Oregon Coast, where rising costs and limited availability have strained working families and vulnerable households. The 12 townhome units are available to households earning 60% or less of the area median income, with two units reserved for households at 30% AMI. Leasing prioritizes residents who live or work in Lincoln County and households displaced by the 2020 Echo Mountain Complex wildfires.
“With rising housing costs and limited availability, projects like Depoe Bay Townhomes are essential. By providing high-quality, affordable homes for working families and those most in need, we’re strengthening the fabric of our coastal communities for the long term.”
Karen Rockwell, Executive Director, HALC
Designed and Built for the Oregon Coast
The project was delivered through a design-build partnership between O’Brien & Company and Open Concept Architecture, with both firms collaborating from early design through construction completion. The two-building development features six townhome units per building, each with shared outdoor spaces designed to foster a sense of community among residents.
Open Concept Architecture designed the homes to meet the specific demands of the coastal Oregon environment — built to resist fire threats and optimized for energy efficiency to help reduce long-term living costs for residents. Construction was completed in approximately one year, a timeline that required creative problem-solving to address challenging soil conditions and coastal groundwater encountered during the build.
A Model for What’s Possible
The Depoe Bay Townhomes represent more than a completed construction project — they represent what becomes possible when public agencies, financial institutions, and design-build partners align around a shared goal. For O’Brien & Company and Open Concept Architecture, this project reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality, purpose-driven work that makes a lasting difference in the communities we serve.
We are honored to have partnered with HALC on this effort and look forward to continuing that work as new housing opportunities take shape across Lincoln County.