Madeline is an experienced community organizer, a policy analyst, and a longtime advocate for more just and sustainable climate, land use, and housing policies.

Madeline Kovacs
Development Manager

Madeline believes that housing justice is climate justice. She is dedicated to Adre’s mission, to innovate and lead in sustainable building techniques while creating social and economic benefits and industry opportunities for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), centering equitable outcomes in our built environments. 

Prior to joining Adre, Madeline served as a Project Manager with community-oriented middle housing developer and general contractor Orange Splot and with middle housing developer UrbanRoost Development. 

Madeline has over a decade of experience in policy analysis and advocacy for more just and sustainable climate, housing, and land use policies. Her early career was as a youth climate organizer, both domestically and at the UNFCCC, working to help amplify underrepresented voices in the climate movement. 

She came to focus on the built environment through graduate work in land use planning and advocacy for local and statewide housing policy and zoning reforms. Most notably, she coordinated the Portland for Everyone coalition with 1000 Friends of Oregon, advocating for reforms to Portland’s single- and multi-dwelling zones, among other campaigns, organized to help pass Oregon’s HB 2001 (2019) and Seattle’s recent ADU reforms with Sightline Institute, and co-founded Portland: Neighbors Welcome. 

Madeline currently serves on the Executive Council for AARP Oregon and as an advisor for the Parking Reform Network and ElectrifyPDX. She also served on the Proud Ground Community Land Trust board of directors for four years. Madeline is a 2018 Skidmore Prize winner and recipient of the John Fregonese Urban Innovator Award.

Read: Madeline’s thoughts on how Infill plan could make homes more affordable, suitable

Read: Madeline presented with David Byrne and Danny Tenenbaum on Portland housing and ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’

EDUCATION

Portland State University | Graduate work in Urban and Regional Planning
Macalester College | Bachelor of Arts in Political Science / Minor in Environmental Sciences

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