Mixed-Use Development coming to Downtown Bend

     As golden shovels gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, affordable mixed-use housing in Bend became a reality. On February 20, the official groundbreaking ceremony for Lava Court took place with many members from the local community on hand for the historic event.
     Lava Court will be a five story building consisting of 33 units of workforce rental housing, 11 affordable condo units, and 8,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. Housing Works Executive Director Cyndy Cook is excited about the project saying it has been a “long haul” to get to this point.
     Cook says the project will provide livable, affordable housing in the Downtown area and believes the housing will attract the younger workforce families as well as seniors.
     The rental housing portion of Lava Court focuses on those households earning from $24,720 up to $35,280. The condo units provide homeownership opportunities for households with incomes up to $70,500.
     Mayor Bruce Abernethy expressed his excitement about the project saying it is an innovative and creative blended community. “This project epitomizes how the City of Bend wants to operate and how it needs to operate,” he said.
     The construction project will last for at least 14 months. Lava Court will provide a long-term affordable housing solution for at least 60 years in downtown Bend.     

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Bend rated as one of the Best Low-Tax Retirement Towns

     The city of Bend will be featured in the third edition of America’s Best Low-Tax Retirement Towns. According to a survey completed by Where to Retire magazine readers, a low overall tax rate is one of the five most important factors when choosing a place to retire.
     For over seven months, nine researchers collected and verified tax rates for 203 in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Researchers looked at the tax liability for nine hypothetical couples looking at everything from income to property values for each city.
     The city's best rank was 7 out of 173 towns in the income/home value scenario of $30,000/$125,000.
     In addition to a summary on how the property tax in the city is calculated, the book also features an exclusive profile of the city as a top retirement town. The profile gives readers a glimpse of the quality of life Bend has to offer including:  living and housing costs, climate, recreational and cultural opportunities, and so much more.
     Other Oregon cities highlighted were Ashland, Grants Pass, and Medford.

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Economic Forecast – The Institute for Trends Research @ EDCO Luncheon

     According to Alan Beaulieu, an economist with The Institute for Trends Research, we have about a year or less before a global recession occurs.  Trends Research specializes in economic forecasting 3 to 5 years in the future; their forecast points to a recession around the end of ’08 or early ’09.  Why?
     Beaulieu points to a long term lack of leadership at the Federal Level, huge deficit spending, energy prices, and the fact that in the not so distant future 100% of our Federal Budget will be eaten up by Medicare, prescription drug cost, and Social Security payments.  For the time being, he points out we are not in a recession because we are still growing in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and US Industrial Production.
     Beaulieu feels what is needed is the following formula called CREATE: C = Corporate Tax Rates are the highest in the industrialized world; R = Regulatory reform is desperately needed; E = Employee benefits costs are too high, we’re in need of healthcare reform; A = Able workers are becoming harder to find and we need a major overhaul of our educational system to stay competitive in the world economy; T = Tort reform; and, E = Energy plan, we don’t have one and one is needed badly.  He also pointed out the US economy makes up 27.7% of the world GDP

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Sheriff’s Office puts on Shredding Event

     The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Data Delete of Oregon are joining forces in March to provide residents the opportunity to destroy personal documentation and learn about identity theft.
     The shredding event is no cost to the public and will take place in the Sheriff’s office parking lot, 63333 Highway 20 West, Bend, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 15.
     The Sheriff’s Office will have an information booth to provide residents with information on how to avoid becoming an identity theft victim and what to do if your identity has already been stolen.
     Don’t worry about sorting documents before hand. The shredding equipment can operate and destroy paperwork with paper clips and staples attached.

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Free DEQ South County Water Quality Meeting VHS & DVD Copies Available Now 

     DVD and VHS copies of the south county water quality meeting held with Deschutes County and DEQ/DLCD on January 30, are now available for free at the following locations:

Deschutes County Services Center
Board of County Commissioners/Administration Office
1300 NW Wall Street in Bend, 2nd Floor

La Pine Chamber of Commerce
51425 Hwy 97 Ste. A, La Pine 

     All citizens are encouraged to share the recordings and to make copies of them for others. For more information, please call 330-4640 or 388-6571.

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Call for Nominations for the Bend Art, Beautification and Culture Award

     City of Bend Art, Beautification and Culture Commission is seeking nominations for individuals, organizations, and businesses that made significant contributions to the celebration, promotion, beautification, or preservation of the City’s arts, culture, natural environment, or public spaces in 2007.
     Award consideration will include residential, commercial, and governmental beautification projects, multicultural and historical cultural events and programs, visual, performing and literary art programs and products.
     Nomination forms are available online through the City of Bend website at www.ci.bend.or.us or at City Hall. Nominations must be received by Friday, March 21st, 2008. For further information, contact Patty Stell at 388-5517.

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