Atomic Orchard Experiment
How can we build a well-designed, community-led building for owner-occupiers, not investors?
Breaking ground in 2020, 86-unit Atomic Orchard Experiment provides 18 deeply affordable housing units through internal-subsidization (no outside subsidy). As with all Portland Oregon-based Guerrilla Development (GD) projects, in addition to smart and adventurous project design, there is a social experiment at work. All owners, including GD, typically receive an 8% cash-on-cash “dividend” in our projects, however, in the case of Atomic, all owners agree to a socially-minded business plan of not fully maximizing the rental potential of the property and accepting a lower, but still modest, 4% cash-on-cash return. With this internal subsidy, 18 units can be rented for only $582 per month. The developer gets their return, the community gets more well-designed affordable housing, and the neighborhood’s essential workers can live close to where they make an impact – win-win-win.
2020
N/A - Site Built

Prospective Sites
Overview
![]() 86 units |
![]() 86 bedrooms |
![]() 3 stories Midrise |
![]() 14,000 SF Footprint |
![]() 35,000 Total SF |
![]() 350 SF/Occupant |
Proposal Origins
Designed Portland, OR |
Produced Portland, OR |
Located Portland, OR |