Step Forward Activities Inc., the nonprofit in Baker City that helps residents with intellectual and development disabilities, is remodeling the former DMV and Oregon State Police office into seven studio apartments.

Step Forward, which has been operating since 1976, bought the building at 1050 S. Bridge St., just north of Mount Hope Cemetery, in April 2024 for $509,900, according to county assessor’s office records.

Sasha Gazley, Step Forward’s executive director since 2017 and a 30-year employee, said renovations to the 5,540-square-foot building are projected to cost about $1 million.

Step Forward is preparing to seek bids for the work, Gazley said.

It’s a major project, she said, as workers will need to build new bathrooms and kitchens, since the structure, built in 1950 and vacant for more than 15 years, was intended as office space rather than apartments.

The Baker City Planning Commission rezoned the building from low-density residential to medium-density, which allows apartments, in February 2024, before Step Forward bought the building.

Gazley said Step Forward has been saving money for many years to expand housing for its clients, so it didn’t need to apply for a grant for the Bridge Street apartment project.

Most of Step Forward’s income is from Medicaid, through the state of Oregon, Gazley said.

The nonprofit also has a contract with multiple state agencies to supply trash can liners and plastic pet waste bags.

(Although for much of its history Step Forward employed many its clients at its office at 3720 10th St. in Baker City, since 2015 Oregon has prohibited intellectually and disabled residents from working in what are known as “sheltered workshops,” such as Step Forward, with a goal of moving those workers into other jobs. Gazley said three disabled veterans, who aren’t Step Forward clients, oversee the trash can liner and pet waste bag production at Step Forward.)

The nonprofit owns three group homes in Baker City, each with five residents, and is remodeling a fourth home, also with a capacity of five residents.

But Gazley said some clients prefer to live in individual apartments rather than in a group home.

Gazley said Mitch Grove, a Baker City real estate agent, alerted Step Forward to the Bridge Street building.

“It seemed like a really good fit,” she said.

Gazley said three of the seven apartments will be wheelchair-accessible.

Although she said there are likely enough Step Forward clients to take all seven apartments, if any units remain available they would be open with a priority for seniors or disabled veterans.

The renovated building will include a covered patio. Gazley said the building will also serve as office space for some Step Forward administrative staff who help clients with housing.

Help with housing, job skills
Although the 2015 state order, which stemmed from a 2012 lawsuit that didn’t involve Step Forward, prohibits Step Forward from directly employing its clients as in the past, Gazley said Step Forward continues to try to help clients find jobs in the community.

There are daily activities at the 10th Street office, a mixture of recreation, such as organizing trips to the bowling alley and the senior center for bingo, and training to help clients improve their job skills, Gazley said.

“We do a lot of skill-building, and help them explore their interests in employment,” she said.

Prior to the state order in 2015, Step Forward employed as many as 50 clients in Baker City. The nonprofit had contracts for several products, including ink cartridges for laser printers.

Step Forward had an annual payroll of around $3 million and also had clients and programs in Grant County.

The nonprofit no longer operates in Grant County, Gazley said.

Step Forward has 33 clients in Baker City, she said.