BEND, OR -- City-owned property in Juniper Ridge and near Bend Senior High are about to hit the market. "We don’t sell land very often," says Bend's Real Estate Director Matt Stuart, "Because most of our land is used for civic purposes - whether it’s roads or utilities, or just our functioning as a city."
But the surplus land has a very specific purpose now. Stuart tells KBND News the 3.4 acres near SE 9th and Glenwood (pictured) was identified for housing several years ago, but it’s taken time to get the vacant lot ready for sale. "It doesn’t necessarily need to be affordable, it doesn’t have to be defined as ‘middle.’ It could be market," says Stuart, "It can be any sort of housing. We’re sort of looking or any sort of proposal to come forward that can bring housing into this central area of Bend, here. Because it is a great infill piece that’s right in the middle of town."
On the north end of two, two parcels are available in Juniper Ridge, totalling about 200 acres. Stuart says they could be sold separately or together. They're zoned for industrial use, "Juniper Ridge has been identified as the area where we want to see employment growth; a place where we’d like to see new businesses, existing businesses grow." Stuart says the right buyer will have a plan to develop or subdivide the lots, so construction could begin as quickly as possible, "We’re bringing land to market that has the roads platted. But we’re asking the developer, ‘In exchange for this sale of land, you’re responsible for building all that infrastructure.’" He adds, "There is a lot of pressure on existing industrial space in town, with the low vacancy rate. So, there is demand. And currently, we as the city, are holding a lot of the land that’s zoned industrial. So, this is our opportunity to sort of try to help bring this to market. We’re just selling the land and allowing the development community to bring us proposals to what it is they think they can do in the timeline."
Stuart says the sales will contribute millions of dollars to the city’s general fund, but the proposals aren't just about the right price. Developers must also show their plans fit the city’s timeline and benefit the community. Click HERE for more information. Proposals are due January 31st.
