Williams & Russell CDC opens tickets for inaugural Harlem on the Hill gala

Williams & Russell CDC began public ticket sales July 15 for its inaugural gala, Harlem on the Hill, set for Feb. 27, 2027, at the Portland Art Museum. The event lands as the nonprofit finishes the first phase of its Hill Block redevelopment in Portland’s Albina neighborhood, including 20 affordable homeownership townhomes.

Why it matters: - The gala is tied to a major milestone in Williams & Russell CDC’s effort to rebuild Portland’s historic Hill Block in Albina. - The first phase delivered 20 affordable homeownership townhomes on land that was once home to a thriving Black community before eminent domain during 1970s urban renewal. - The broader redevelopment plan also includes affordable rental housing and a business and community hub on the 2.99-acre site.

What happened: - Williams & Russell CDC opened public ticket sales July 15, 2026, for Harlem on the Hill: A Night at the Cotton Club. - The inaugural gala is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027, at the Portland Art Museum. - No access code is required for public ticket sales. - Early-bird pricing runs from July 15 through July 31.

The details: - The first phase of the Hill Block redevelopment includes 20 affordable homeownership townhomes. - The homes include 10 two-bedroom units and 10 three-bedroom units. - Four of the townhomes include accessible ground-floor living. - The project sits at North Russell Street and North Williams Avenue in Portland. - Sponsorship packages are sold separately from general tickets. - Sponsorships may include reserved seating, tables, named experiences, hospitality, entertainment, and mission-centered recognition. - Seats for the gala are limited. - Williams & Russell CDC plans to share the public ticketing link and sponsor announcements in the coming months. - The organization describes the Hill Block effort as community-led redevelopment centered on affordable rental housing, affordable homeownership and a business and community hub. - More information is available on the organization’s website.

Between the lines: - The gala is more than a fundraiser. It is a public marker that the Hill Block project has moved from planning to visible construction and occupancy. - The event also frames the redevelopment as reparative development, connecting new housing to the history of displacement in Albina. - CEO Azalea Renfield said the homes show that reparative development works and that the gala is a chance to bring people into that celebration and invest in what comes next.

What’s next: - Williams & Russell CDC will release the public ticketing link and additional sponsor details in the coming months. - The first-phase homes now set the stage for the next parts of the Hill Block plan, including rental housing and the community hub. - The Feb. 27 gala will serve as a high-profile public moment for the organization’s next round of fundraising and engagement.