BEND, OR -- The city of Bend is selling off another two lots inside Juniper Ridge, on the northern edge of the city. "We own 1500 acres that is called Juniper Ridge," says Bend City Manager Eric King, "There's about 500 acres that's inside the urban growth boundary." He tells KBND News Taylor Brooks will purchase about 100 of those acres. "Todd Taylor and Brooks Resources, they have combined forces and they have purchased land for about $8 million. Some land on the northern edge, and then land towards the east, on Cooley Road. And they will develop that land for employment. So, jobs, industrial uses, things like that." Sections of Cooley Road, Talus Place, NE 18th, NE Andesite Street, Outcrop Lane and Igneous Drive will all see improvements under the deal.

Unlike previous sales in Juniper Ridge, King says, the buyer is responsible for creating necessary roads, "This allows us to sell a large tract of land to a developer. And then they will put the infrastructure in and sell off lots. So, they're not the ultimate user of that property, but they will do all of the horizontal development - the roads, the sewer and such."

City Council agreed to the deal this week, "We looked at the price of the lands, took into account the cost of putting roads and sewer and water in, as well. It was a long process, it was a competitive process; we went through a Request For Proposal to solicit firms," says King, "We had about three different developers who were competing for that land and, ultimately, chose them."

Revenue from the sale will go into the city's General Fund. 

Also this week, the city agreed to buy three properties from Taylor Development LLC. The lots are in the Core Area, at 184 NE Franklin, 615 NE Second and 637 NE Second. That deal will cost Bend $3.5 million. But officials say it will help the city meet short- and long-term community needs, including the potential development of a new City Hall. 

file photo: Juniper Ridge