Design firm showcases downtown workforce‑housing concept as North Bend prepares URA funding
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Summary
Salazar Architects presented a Catalyst Design Grant report for a proposed downtown workforce housing project that would replace City Hall with roughly 100 units, ground‑floor commercial, event space and parking. Staff described $96,000 RFP work and a $4 million URA financing package to advance design and funding.
Salazar Architects on Feb. 23 presented preliminary designs funded through a Catalyst Design Grant for a proposed downtown workforce‑housing project in North Bend that would replace the existing City Hall footprint and add roughly 100 rental units, ground‑floor commercial space, parking and public plaza elements.
The firm’s Jennifer Nye told the council the project grew from an initial hospital‑adjacent parcel to a broader site that now encompasses City Hall. Nye described three design teams — a sustainable design lab, a well‑being lab and a community design lab — whose schemes included a five‑story wood‑framed building above a concrete podium, a U‑shaped four‑story courtyard plan, and a plan that emphasizes a plaza and event space connected to Festival Street. Nye said the team will issue a draft report and renderings and aims to deliver a final report in mid‑March.
Why it matters: city staff said advancing the designs now will allow the Urban Renewal Agency to package the project for funding and to align transportation, utility and permitting work. Mister Windmayer told councilors a $96,000 RFP is underway to address transportation impacts and utility coordination so the project can be packaged for capital funding, and that $4,000,000 in URA‑modeled funds have been identified to cover professional services as part of a longer repayment plan.
Key details and debate: presenters described a program of about 100 one‑ to three‑bedroom units and estimated the residential population at build‑out could be about 230–300 people. The sustainable scheme included a public lookout/tower and a park at the northeast corner; the well‑being scheme emphasized protected residential open space to shield from southerly winds. On the question why some schemes leave inner courts rather than filling the footprint, designers explained that double‑loaded corridors and daylight access require spacing between building bars.
Staff also framed long‑term asset strategy: moving the property into a land bank, pursuing Brownfield grants and third‑party management could remove long‑term taxpayer liability and generate program income. Windmayer estimated the completed program could generate roughly $1,000,000 in program revenue and said the URA financing model assumes repayment via tax‑increment financing over about 30 years.
Constraints noted by staff included an existing City Hall that would be costly to retrofit; Windmayer cited a seismic study estimate of roughly $10–12 million to bring the current building to full seismic compliance. Councilors also pressed designers on wind exposure, material choices and parking access during Festival Street closures.
What’s next: the design team will refine the preferred scheme, issue renderings and a draft report for staff feedback and return with a final report. Staff said the $96,000 RFP will complete transportation/utility coordination and position the project for future funding steps.
Representative quotes: “I’m Jennifer Nye with Salazar Architects,” Nye said when introducing the firm. On funding and next steps, Mister Windmayer said the $96,000 RFP is to “address transportation impacts, utility coordination, and then get this to the point where we can package it for funding.” On the housing type, Windmayer emphasized, “This is not low income housing. This is true workforce housing.”
Ending: Council thanked the presenters and agreed to provide feedback to staff before the firm issues final materials. The Urban Renewal Agency will use the charrette materials and the RFP findings to inform a subsequent procurement and funding timeline.
