BCD Block Party Draws Big Crowd to the Wagner Mall
The BCD Initiative drew hundreds of neighbors, business owners, developers, and community leaders to reimagine the Bend Central District together in a fun and exciting setting Tuesday evening. Bend’s classic Wagner Mall transformed into a mini cityscape to fit the event’s theme, “Honey I Shrunk the BCD,” complete with a “theater” screening interviews of BCD residents and business owners, an indoor farmer’s market from Locavore, and live mural painting by local artist Kaycee Anseth.
The event was hosted by the BCD Visionary Board, which is a diverse group of stakeholders who have established a foundation for inclusive, effective, and durable collaboration in the neighborhood. Through creative placemaking, outreach, and research, they are stewarding the community’s vision for the future of the Bend Central District.
The group released a memo with guidelines for future development, a rendering of a potential development on 2nd Ave and Hawthorne Ave, and plans for the next phase of #ProjectUnderpass.
Existing site at NE Hawthorne Ave & NE 2nd St.
Rendering of potential development at NE Hawthorne Ave & NE 2nd St.
Representative Cheri Helt told the crowd she appreciates the work the BCD Visionary Board has done to build a sense of community, saying the BCD Initiative aligns very well with what she wants to accomplish at the State Capitol. “I want to work on affordable housing, livability, walkability,” Helt said, adding that she has already passed a bill to encourage mixed-use development along the Third Street corridor.
Now that we have successfully installed Kaycee Anseth’s original artwork in the North Pedestrian Railroad Tunnel of the Franklin Avenue Underpass, the next phase of #ProjectUnderpass will be to engage the Latinx community in designing and installing a mural in the South Pedestrian Railroad Tunnel at the Franklin Avenue Underpass.
One of the interactive activities used lego-style blocks to allow participants to answer the question “Which of these themes do you want to continue to be a part of the BCD as it changes?” All five themes emerged as winners – people want the BCD to be a place for Nature and Industry, a place for Makers, a place for Diversity, a place for Connecting, and a place for Remaining.
The BCD Visionary Board invites you to volunteer or apply for a position.
