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Bend Urban Renewal Agency adopts fee, launches Core Area Revitalization Effort and approves two development assistance agreements
Summary
The Bend Urban Renewal Agency on Oct. 1 adopted a set of measures including a 1% origination fee for affordable housing loans, creation of a Core Area Revitalization Effort grant program (delegated to the Core Area Advisory Board), and approval of two development assistance agreements totaling roughly $5.5 million in potential assistance.
The Bend Urban Renewal Agency (Burra) met Oct. 1 and took several actions to implement grants, fees and development assistance across multiple urban renewal districts.
Fees: Burra adopted a resolution establishing program fees for FY 2025–26 that applies a 1% origination fee to affordable housing loan applications; staff said the fee covers loan processing costs and will be administered in partnership with NeighborImpact for low‑income assistance programs.
Core area grant program (CARE): Burra voted to rescind the existing Core Area Business Assistance Program and replace it with the Core Area Revitalization Effort (CARE) grant program, a 50% matching grant with awards up to $50,000 per project and a rolling application process. The agency authorized the Core Area Advisory Board (CAB) to administer the program and make grant award decisions within the adopted budget; staff said the program is capped by the adopted biennial budget and CAB must follow conflict‑of‑interest rules (the policy requires recusal when a CAB member, family or business is an applicant or is physically adjacent to an applicant property).
Juniper Ridge development assistance: Burra approved a development assistance agreement with Taylor Brooks LLC for Lot 6 in Juniper Ridge (NoCo project). The agency authorized reimbursements for site development costs not to exceed $4,315,977; staff explained the work brought forward curb‑to‑curb improvements on Andesite and Triton and completed more than the base requirement to open adjacent parcels and reduce costs for future development (staff said the project is expected to create 300–500 jobs and the developer estimates a project cost of about $29.1 million).
Parkway Studios (Core Area) tax‑increment assistance: Burra approved a tax‑increment assistance agreement with Parkway Studios LLC to support the construction of a 24‑unit multifamily project at 17 NW Irving Street in the core area. The assistance package totals up to $1,232,943 over 23 years; the developer committed 50% of units at or below 90% AMI (six at 80% AMI and six at 90% AMI), required Energy Trust multifamily market solutions certification, and local contractor participation. Staff said the owner elected $980,000 in system development charge payments from the approved assistance and the remainder as annual rebates; the agreement includes clawback provisions for noncompliance.
Why this matters: Burra said the mix of actions aims to spur commercial and industrial development in Juniper Ridge, accelerate core area housing and improve the visual environment in the downtown core while limiting financial authority through budget caps and conflict rules. Councilors and agency members discussed monitoring and reporting; Burra asked CAB to provide a summary of grant awards after the first $100,000 disbursed and noted the program would be revisited through the biennial budget and future policy reviews.
