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Committee hears update on Heart of Fairview plan; city awards $18,000 tenant improvement grant to new hobby shop
Summary
EDAC members discussed a five‑acre Heart of Fairview mixed‑use concept under developer review and learned that staff awarded an $18,000 tenant improvement grant to Bridge City Hobbies, which plans to open a retail and tabletop gaming shop in the Fairview Village area.
The Economic Development Advisory Committee heard details about a proposed Heart of Fairview mixed‑use development and received updates on recent tenant improvement grants intended to encourage storefront occupancy.
Committee members said a developer presented conceptual plans for a five‑acre site near the Veterans Building two years ago and held an open house. The plan envisions mixed‑use buildings with apartments, ground‑floor retail and a public plaza space for events. A developer representative has posted example projects on a website and referenced similar work in Bend, members said. Committee members emphasized that the project will require land‑use approvals and then financing; construction could be “a couple of years” after approvals while the developer pursues funding, a committee member said.
On smaller‑scale commercial activity, staff reported that a business called Bridge City Hobbies applied for and received an $18,000 tenant improvement grant from the city’s urban renewal program to finish storefront work. “They applied for a tenant improvement grant through urban renewal from the city and, staff awarded them an $18,000 grant to work on their tenant improvements,” Sarah Sullivan, staff member, told the committee. Sullivan said Bridge City Hobbies is awaiting an HVAC split system and hopes to open soon; the business plans retail sales plus in‑store gaming and classes.
Staff also noted other recent grant recipients on Halsey, including a Thai restaurant near Stomping Grounds, and said the tenant improvement program has generated renewed interest in local storefront occupancy. Committee members asked staff to gather contact information and outreach summaries from property owners and to learn how new businesses found Fairview so the city can replicate successful recruitment methods.
On the Heart of Fairview project, staff said they will share open‑house materials, architectural concepts and developer contact information with committee members and bring updates if the project advances to land‑use review.
