Proposal For Urban Renewal In The Core Area Of Bend
Things are moving quickly with the City of Bend's Core Area planning process, which aims to create an Urban Renewal District in the Bend Central District and surrounding areas by August of this year.
The proposed plan contains almost everything we need to see the BCD transition to a vibrant, healthy, and inclusive mixed-use neighborhood with safe connections between east and west Bend!
It includes funding mechanisms for a wide range of critical projects and programs to make the community vision for the heart of Bend a reality. One of the ways the draft plan can be improved is by adding language and policies to ensure investments benefit existing Bend residents and businesses.
What’s in the Plan
The City of Bend's Core Area Project (CAP) creates a common vision and implementation plan for the Core Area of Bend. The process has:
Established guiding principles
Created an urban design framework
Identified projects and programs that need funding
Developed funding strategies
Download the plans and reports developed by the City of Bend’s planning process (current as of 4/10/20): Draft Core Area TIF Report; Draft Core Area TIF Plan; Draft Core Area Report; Draft Core Area Report Technical Appendix
Current 2nd & Greenwood streetscape and built environment
Rendering of possible future streetscape and built environment at 2nd & Greenwood
Funding Allocation
Funding created over the next 30 years by Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in the proposed Urban Renewal District would be distributed according to the proportions shown here.
Learn more about how TIF dollars are generated without raising taxes here.
Rendering of possible improvements to NE 1st Street and Hawthorne spurred with TIF dollars.
How the Draft Plan Could be Improved
This is a critical moment for the future of our City and the Bend Central District. We are excited to finally see funding on the horizon for bike/pedestrian connections across Third Street, the parkway, and risky intersections, plus streetscape improvements, affordable housing, and parks, plazas, art, and more!
But when the City makes these investments we need to ask who benefits? How can the plan ensure public investments have benefits for local businesses, existing residents, and our most vulnerable populations? The City should address these questions in its Urban Renewal Plan.
Of course we understand that some of the money and incentives need to go toward making vertical mixed-use development pencil, but if there is no equity lens, we risk losing the diversity and charm at the heart of the BCD.
