What we’ve heard from the community and what happened at URAB #4!

There is a lot happening with the City’s Core Area Project! In this update you will find information about what happened at the last Urban Renewal Advisory Board (URAB) meeting and what we’ve heard from our public outreach efforts to date.

August URAB Meeting

URAB met again on August 13, 2019, and approved a refined Urban Renewal boundary to be used for further technical analysis. The board recommended minor modifications to the proposed boundary included in the URAB 4 Agenda Packet (page 47) and recognized the need to consider additional right of way inclusions for the boundary as projects are considered. If an urban renewal district is formed, any increased revenue from property taxes in this area could be used for approved urban renewal projects within this boundary. Over the next several months, the project team will develop revenue projections to determine how much tax increment could be generated from an Urban Renewal District in the Core Area.

In addition, the board heard about other implementation tools that could be coupled with Urban Renewal to support mixed-use development in the area and finance infrastructure needs. As an early implementation action, the board directed staff to develop recommendations to pursue development code amendments for the area to remove barriers to development/redevelopment within the area, particularly for housing.

URAB 4 Presentation slides are available on the URAB webpage. The next meeting is scheduled for October 1, 2019.

Public Outreach

The City has engaged over 2,000 community members through a variety of outreach efforts related to the Core Area Project. Thank you to all of you who participated in these outreach opportunities!

Below is a summary of what we’ve heard from the community:

• Transportation projects are the most requested types of projects in the area and the number one priority use of Urban Renewal funding.
• The three most important Guiding Principles to the community are:
•  Create a place where you can live, work and play.
• This is a walkable area with a balanced transportation system.
• This area removes barriers and connects the East and West sides of Bend.
• The Community would like Urban Renewal to support a balance of project types for the area including affordable housing, infrastructure, and placemaking investments such as business improvements, public spaces, and public art.
• There is a strong desire for transportation improvements in the Core area, particularly for projects that will enhance pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safety, including undercrossing improvements, safe crossings, and sidewalk infill.
• There is strong community support for more housing options in the area.

The dialogue about forming a Core Area Urban Renewal District with the community has continued. In fact, on August 15, 2019 the City Club of Central Oregon hosted a presentation, featuring guest speaker Michelle Reeves, about how Urban Renewal can be used to support local businesses and achieve economic development goals using case studies and examples from other communities. The City of Bend provided a brief update on the progress of the Core Area Project at the event. City Club will post a video recording of the presentation in the next several weeks!