New recovery treatment center in Portland's central eastside brings 'mix of emotions'

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland’s central eastside is set to gain a new recovery treatment center starting next week. 

Governor Tina Kotek joined local and state health officials Wednesday to announce the grand opening of the 16 x Burnside Recovery Center. 

“Oregon has struggled with a fragmented mental health system,” Governor Kotek said. “Too many people have fallen through the cracks. We've seen the consequences in our emergency rooms, in our jails, on our streets and in the heartbreaking stories of our families who are stretched to their limits trying to help loved ones alive in their life. Today, we take an important step towards changing that story.” 

Home of the former Lolo Pass Portland Hotel and Hostel, Central City Concern purchased the building at the corner of SE 16th and Burnside in December 2023. 

“This facility is more than just a building. It represents a hard-fought shift in how we care for our community. It's a space for healing, recovery and hope. It's a place where people in crisis will be met with compassion, professionalism and support,” Kotek said. “Here in central Portland, we are creating access, real, meaningful access to the services that are too often out of reach.” 

The drug and alcohol-free facility will provide 74 beds for individuals struggling with mental health and drug addiction. The extended residential treatment center aims to address a long-standing gap in care for those exiting detox and other stabilizing facilities.

“Most of the folks that we're going to be serving here have been deemed, historically, too complex to be served elsewhere within our regional service continuum,” said Andy Mendenhall, CEO and President of Central City Concern (CCC). 

For more than 40 years, CCC has operated the Hooper Detoxification Stabilization Center at North Williams Avenue. 

During a 2022 survey of 2,772 Hooper patients, CCC found more than half were recommended residential care but only 17% could move to a facility at discharge. CCC estimates roughly 25% of clients referred to residential treatment were denied because they needed a higher level of care.

“Think about what it would feel like to be seeking a recovery pathway and then to be told that you were too sick — that's not going to happen here at the 16 x Burnside Recovery Center,” Mendenhall said. “We are going to change that narrative that folks don't get better, or that folks are too ill to get into recovery, because we know it's possible.”

16 x Burnside is expected to offer those leaving Hooper or referred by Multnomah County’s Withdrawal Management housing, employment, and other reintegrating services.

Individuals entering the federally qualified health center will have to voluntarily agree to treatment rules and restricted visitation hours, according to CCC. 

However, the location has sparked mixed reactions from those living and working in the Kerns and Buckman neighborhoods as it sits just around the corner from Childroots southeast daycare and preschool. 

“We do absolutely recognize that there is a need for this kind of facility. We do have some concerns with it being this close to a school,” said Angelina Overstreet, director of the Childroots Southeast location. "Drug use does happen on the street. We find needles in our play yard sometimes, so it's not without concerns for us."

Overstreet told KOIN 6 News she did not attend engagement meetings between CCC and local neighborhood associations, but her predecessor did. 

“There was definitely a mix of emotions,” she said. “Is it going to bring more people on the streets, wandering around, maybe not being the best mental health that they can be in? I think that’s probably what most businesses are worried about around here.”

Neighbor Dave Sachs said when he saw the property next door sold, curiosity brought him to join the Kerns Neighborhood Association to engage with CCC. 

“I felt conflicted. Truthfully, we as property owners in the area really loved Lolo Pass and all it brought to the neighborhood," Sachs said. "But in the big picture, when you think about what the city needs, it's easy to see why a facility like this made sense.” 

Initially skeptical, Sachs said he felt CCC could have made information more accessible for residents living nearby. However, he told KOIN 6 News he quickly became impressed with CCC’s gradual rollout plan, their strict rules for clients, and willingness to make concessions to appease neighbors’ concerns. 

“They reiterated at each of our meetings, what won't be happening is they open their doors on day one, the place is flooded, there's a line around the block with folks camping out — and you know, this dystopian nightmare is just going to be dropped on our doorstep,” He said. “Instead, they will be letting a few patients in on that first week. Then they're going to learn and open their doors to more.”

After Sachs and other neighborhood association members voiced concerns that fumes from a designated 'smoking room' at the planned recreation center could spill into residential areas, he said CCC agreed to purchase a smoke-eater machine in an effort to quell fears. 

“I'm pretty proud that Kerns can support something like this,” Sachs said. "If we are going to agree that this is what the city needs, we're going to need to find places like this that can fit it. We can't build them all from scratch and snap our fingers and have this problem solved.”