Opportunity Areas
During the UGB Remand planning process (2014 to 2016), the City evaluated the efficient use of existing urban land through the lens of “opportunity areas”. Opportunity areas are locations within the City that are appropriate to focus new growth due to their location, zoning (existing or planned), amount of vacant or underdeveloped land, and/or proximity to urban services. Each opportunity area will serve a unique role in the City’s future – some are vacant land and will develop primarily through private sector initiative; others are redevelopment opportunities and will require a partnership of private sector investment and City support or investment.
Bend’s opportunity areas are summarized below – please see the Urbanization Report for more detailed descriptions of the opportunity areas. The Opportunity Areas are shown on Figure 11-1.
■ Bend Central District – opportunity for the 3rd Street commercial strip to transition to a mixed use corridor
Rendering of 3rd Street in the Bend Central District. Public and private investments in streetscape improvements support all modes of travel. New commercial and mixed use buildings revitalize the district.
■ East Downtown – long-term opportunity for an extension of the downtown
■ Inner Highway 20 – long-term opportunity for a walkable, mixed use corridor
■ Century Drive Area – a key part of the Central Westside Plan, the siting of OSU’s new four-year Cascades campus offers an opportunity to create a new mixed use center anchored and supported by the new institutional employment district.
Rendering of 14th Street / Century Drive near Commerce Avenue. Public and private investments will create a new mixed use center with “complete” streets.
■ KorPine – opportunity to transform an industrial area into a vibrant urban mixed use district
■ Inner Highway 20 / Greenwood Ave – opportunity to shift to a more walkable mixed use corridor
■ Juniper Ridge – opportunity for a future industrial and professional office employment district
■ 15th Street Ward Property – As the largest vacant residentially-designated property in Bend, this area offers an opportunity to create a new complete neighborhood including a local commercial center, a variety of housing options, parks and a school
Rendering of 15th Street north of Knott Road. New development provides local commercial services, a variety of housing opportunities, and “complete” streets.
■ COID Property – long term opportunity for a new neighborhood adjacent to the Deschutes River
■ River Rim – opportunity for an environmentally-sensitive new neighborhood adjacent to the Deschutes River