It’s all happening in the Bend Central District
THe Bend Central District
On the brink of transformational change
Last month, we had a party with a purpose and were floored by the enthusiasm and response! The BC⚡DC (The Bend Central District Celebration) was all about where we’ve been, what’s happening now, and all that is to come in the BCD.
This event highlighted all the incredible efforts by our community to make the BCD one of Bend’s very best Complete Communities.
What is a Complete Community? It’s a vibrant, welcoming neighborhood with housing options for all, nature nearby, convenient and safe ways to get around (that don’t always require a car), and it’s mixed use so services and stuff people need are always close by.
The event also spotlighted some of the exciting and transformative projects on the horizon. It honored this moment, where we find ourselves on the brink of profound, transformative change for the heart of Bend.
“Why is the BCD special? The BCD has grit. When I talk about ‘grittiness’, I’m talking about patina on a neighborhood that you can only get as time passes and lives are lived.
And that patina has beauty because it’s a historical footprint. And it has beauty because it has a uniqueness that can be transformed into something that is not ‘cookie-cutter’ - and takes some creativity to reimagine.”
The path to this moment
When you’re looking ahead, it’s important to recognize where you’ve been. And we’ve come a long way, thanks to this community. Let's explore all that led to this moment and celebrate what’s ahead.
2016
LandWatch’s strong voice in the 2016 Urban Growth Boundary Expansion process helped create a plan for growth that increased the ability to build more housing throughout Bend, while reducing costly sprawl by 70% (when compared to the original proposal). The plan added capacity for needed housing and jobs by focusing on density and redevelopment in several locations throughout Bend. These are called “Opportunity Areas” and include the Bend Central District.
2017-2019
Though the City of Bend had recognized - and planned for - the potential of the Bend Central District for over a decade, tangible action was still needed to change the status quo. So Central Oregon LandWatch formed the grassroots, community-driven BCD Initiative. This project created broad, deep support for the future vision of the area as a complete, vibrant, mixed use neighborhood. Over time, that groundswell of community support and momentum was crucial in turning the BCD into a top priority for the City.
2020-2021
The wave of community momentum and support was successful! As a result, the City of Bend created a Core Area Plan that centered the community’s vision for the BCD. The City also created an Urban Renewal Area (URA) - the Core Area - to fund and implement the plan and turn the BCD vision into reality. This funding tool, also known as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), will invest $195M into redeveloping the Core Area and BCD over the next 30 years.
Big investments in the BCD
2022 was a BIG year for the BCD. LandWatch worked with community partners, local businesses, and the City of Bend to help deliver over $30M of transformative transportation and infrastructure investments to the BCD and our community.
Over the next five years, these investments will make Franklin, Hawthorne, Greenwood, and 2nd Street safer, more welcoming, walkable, bikeable, and rollable.
What’s ahead?
There is a lot ahead for the BCD. This place is becoming one of Bend’s most incredible Complete Communities - and it still needs champions! LandWatch will keep working with the City of Bend and the community to achieve a shared vision for the BCD’s future. You’ll hear a lot about Climate-Friendly & Equitable Communities in the year ahead; the BCD is poised to become one of Bend’s first Climate-Friendly Areas.
It is also critical to support the people and businesses who are in the BCD now. These bold frontrunners have put roots down that are creating community and identity for the BCD. With Urban Renewal, displacement and gentrification of existing businesses and community members can occur. To intentionally work to prevent and address this, a two-pronged Development Partner Program will begin in 2023. One program will help local, existing businesses stay in the area and flourish, by investing in buildings and operations. A second program will help move major housing and mixed use projects forward.
Want to Stay involved?
If you’re ready to put tackling climate change, providing affordable housing, and creating equitable transportation choices at the center of how our cities are planned, built, and funded, buckle up.
This year, it’s on!
Explore the Midtown Crossings
The transformative Midtown Crossings projects will soon be underway and make Bend a more accessible and safer place for people who walk, bike, and roll!
Since 2017, we’ve seen the overwhelming need and widespread community support for making the Bend Central District a vibrant, connected, and safe Complete Community. Improvements to the corridors and crossings of Franklin Avenue, Greenwood Avenue, and Hawthorne Avenue - also known as the “Midtown Crossings” - are a high priority for making this future a reality.
After years of advocacy and groundwork, we are thrilled to see that the stage is now set for some big improvements to the Midtown Crossings.
Plans for housing & mixed use projects
These exciting projects will be instrumental in transforming the BCD into a vibrant Complete Community. Together, they will provide additional housing choices, creating job opportunities and services that are close by and easily accessible, and support a thriving local economy in the neighborhood.
Dive deeper
Want to know more?
Check out the City’s Core Area Dashboard to explore some of the projects happening in the area.
Want to know more context and history behind what’s going on? Visit the Core Area Project page.
Learn more about what’s happening with LandWatch’s Cities and Town’s Program.