BEND, OR -- Bend city officials are narrowing in on where the first development will take place, within the updated Urban Growth Boundary.

City Manager Eric King says it’s a time-consuming process involving some complicated questions, "'Which of these areas have the least amount of infrastructure cost, and yield the best return on investment, in terms of revenue needed to pay for infrastructure, or property taxes to pay for police and fire services?’ And the areas that came out on top were what we call ‘the elbow,’ which is the southeast part of Bend, as well as the core of the city." He tells KBND News, "As part of that urban growth boundary expansion, we also earmarked areas of the city for redevelopment. So, the area along Third Street, as well as KorPine, which is right near Crux – it’s a vacant piece of property, there – are really ripe for redevelopment. So, we talked about those two areas being the best places to start." 

But, he admits, "It doesn’t mean that the other expansion areas won’t get some attention in the next couple of years, but that’s the best place to start because it will allow for development to occur immediately. Especially that southeast part of Bend, because the Southeast Interceptor – the big sewer interceptor – has just been complete, so why not leverage that investment."