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News and notes about downtown
Next year, probably in the first quarter, the Bend
Downtowners Association will
make another attempt to form an
economic improvement district (EID).
The association, with the
blessing of the Bend City
Council, formed an EID last year
but it was voided last month in
Deschutes County Circuit Court
because it wasn’t specific
enough about how the money from
the EID was being spent. Because
the former EID was thrown out,
the association has no money for
snow removal or additional tree
lighting. As with the past EID,
the new proposal will likely
propose a tax of 11 cents per
square foot to downtown property
owners. The association also is
considering adding Greenwood
Avenue to an EID, but that
decision hasn’t been made yet.
In other downtown news, city of
Bend Downtown Manager Jeff
Datwyler said $5 all-day permits
for the parking structure should
be available at the site by this
weekend. Parking is free for
three hours, but permits are
needed for longer stays.
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Bend 2030 moves into third phase
– implementation
Applications are due by Dec. 29 for anyone interested
in serving on the board of a new
non-profit, public-private
organization that will oversee
implementation of the Bend 2030
visioning process. The Bend 2030
Project Management Team will
review applications and hold
interviews in January. A board
outline, job description and
application are available at
www.bend2030.org, or call
598-3942 for more information.
Two related events are coming
up: Bend 2030 participants are
invited to the Bend City Council
meeting at the Tower Theatre on
Jan. 3 as new and re-elected
councilors are sworn into
office. And a Bend 2030 Town
Hall meeting will be held at the
theatre at 7 p.m. on Thursday,
Feb. 22 to introduce the new
Bend 2030 board.
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Fix my street, please!
Last week’s survey question was, As the Bend City
Council works to put together a
road transportation improvement
plan for the city, what
streets/intersections should be
the highest priority, and why?
There were no shortage of
suggestions, but two roads
clearly stood out: Reed Market
Road and Empire Avenue. Some
replies:
“Empire and Boyd Acres four-way stop (three mentions).
There’s a 2 to 2˝ hour rush in
mornings and especially
evenings. You have to wait
through three-plus lights on the
overpass just to get in line. My
biggest concerns are about
people running through red
lights. …”
“American Lane and Reed Market Road (three replies).
It’s very hard to turn out of
American Lane onto Reed Market
without backing up a large line.
It’s also bad when a train is
crossing and backs up Reed
Market. The same thing happens
at Ninth Street and Reed
Market.”
“Brookswood and Bond in the Old Mill District. The
amount of building there is
amazing. I cannot imagine that
the present state and
configuration of intersections,
crosswalks and numerous cross
streets will be able to continue
to handle the influx. The
intersections of Bond and
Wilson, Brookswood and Powers
and Brookswood and Pinehurst are
fun … if you enjoy seeing your
life before your eyes while in a
vehicle on a regular basis.”
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A reminder from the city: Get a
business license or face a fine
The city of Bend established a
business license ordinance in
January, and all businesses
operating in the city now are
required to have a business
license. Businesses should be
registered by the end of this
year. Those that don’t face a
$500 fine after an 18-month
grace period. Businesses can
submit applications in person at
City Hall or mail them in. To
download an application, go to
“business license” at
www.ci.bend.or.us. Licenses
are required annually and expire
one year from the month
activated. Information:
388-5513.
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Continuation of home sales
slowdown predicted in 2007
The National Association of
Realtors predicted this week
that 2007 will see a second
annual decline in existing home
sales. The organization stated
that sales are expected to
decline 8.6 percent to 6.47
million this year and further
contract another 1 percent to
6.4 million units next year. The
organization’s chief economist
did predict, however, that sales
should se a rebound by the end
of next year. The economist also
predicted that 30-year mortgage
rates would increase to 6.7
percent by September, up from
6.11 percent this week.
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This week’s survey question
What do you think of Les Schwab
Tire Co. moving its headquarters
from Prineville to the city of
Bend’s Juniper Ridge? Please
e-mail your responses to:
jeff@bendchamber.org.
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