The transitional housing facility at the former hotel on Cornell Road near Highway 26 will not open in fall 2026. The timeline has shifted to early 2027.

The change surfaced in Cedar Mill News in its September 2026 issue. As recently as Aug. 17, the publication still described the opening as expected that fall. No official explanation for the delay has been made public.

Washington County purchased the former DoubleTree Hotel at 15402 NW Cornell Rd. in March 2025. The county is converting it into Cornell Road Recovery, a transitional housing program for people in recovery from substance use who are experiencing homelessness.

Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers (HOPE), an Oregon-based organization, will run day-to-day operations. The facility will house 75 to 85 individuals and couples, according to a December 2025 CPO 1 report, with stays limited to 24 months.

Details from the Aug. 18 community meeting

A community meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Bethany Library Annex offered new details about how residents will live. Each floor will function as its own "community," grouping residents to encourage peer support during recovery. A kitchen will be available for residents to prepare meals, and a free food pantry on the main floor will supply ingredients. Pets and service animals will be allowed.

The meeting was part of an ongoing series tied to the Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA), a document in development since October 2025. County staff and Helping Hands incorporated feedback from a June 17 open house and an online survey into a second draft dated Aug. 14.

What the agreement says

The draft GNA spells out several rules and commitments. The program is referral-only. Walk-ins will not be accepted. All residents referred to the site will already be active in recovery and choosing a sober living environment. A curfew runs from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The facility will have 24/7 staffing, security cameras and controlled electronic-key access.

Helping Hands commits to addressing unauthorized camping, debris or personal property concerns within 500 feet of the building. The organization will also share quarterly updates on community concerns and GNA implementation during the first year. Six months after operations begin, the agreement will be reviewed based on community and participant feedback.

The draft describes the agreement as a good-faith effort to maintain a safe and collaborative relationship between the program and neighbors. It is not legally binding.

A facility director has not yet been hired. Once named, that person will serve as a direct contact for neighbors. A community concern form is expected to go live one month before opening.

Commissioner Pam Treece represents District 2, which includes the Bethany and Cedar Mill areas, on the Washington County Board of County Commissioners. Residents who want project updates can email [email protected] to join the interested-parties list. The county's Cornell Road Recovery page has the latest GNA draft and project information.