By Jason Boone
One need not drive around town for long to realize that Bend, Oregon is changing. In fact, Bend is among the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Such growth is nothing new in this charming city on Oregon’s High Desert. Bend has long been a harbinger that has for decades called to retirees, active adults, or just about anybody else who is looking for a simpler life in a beautiful region.
After a slow down during the Great Recession, Bend is back. The evidence can be seen in the construction sites springing up all over town. And nowhere is this more obvious than around the Old Mill District. From high-end townhomes to a new hotel to more affordable options just east of U.S. Highway 97, much is going up around the Old Mill District.
Here is a look at some of the projects going up around the Old Mill District:
- With 25 townhomes in the heart of town, Basecamp is among the more exciting projects in the works. Located across the street from the Old Mill and just a short walk from the Deschutes River, the townhomes are designed to be distinctively urban. The first phase of the luxurious townhomes, ranging in size from 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, is nearing completion. Prices begin at around $650,000.
- Market of Choice, a small Eugene-based grocery store chain, is coming to Bend sometime in 2016. The 34,000-square-foot store is going up between NW Colorado and Arizona avenues, next to Basecamp and the Old Mill. The beloved chain is designed to provide groceries that are fresh, healthy and relatively affordable. It will act as the only full-service grocery store between the Old Mill District and downtown
- Bend, which has been underdeveloped in terms of hotels, will get a boost to its inventory of rooms with the My Place Hotel in the coming days. Going up at 500 SW Bond Street, My Place Hotels is opening a 64-room extended-stay hotel within a short walk from the Regal Old Mill Stadium 16. The work is nearly complete and should be open by December.
- The Reed Market row houses, which rest in southeast Bend just northeast of the intersection of Reed Market and Third Street, are not far from the Old Mill District. But they will not carry the heart-of-Bend price tag. The unique project features 24 row-house style homes with floor plans that average about 1,950 square feet. Some units are nearing completion and the majority of units are scheduled to be completed by January. Prices begin at around $300,000.
- Bend Park & Recreation District might have the coolest project nearing completion. And by cool, I mean ice cold. Bend Parks is putting the finishing touches on its $11.4 million ice pavilion. The covered (yet still outdoor) facility is built near the Deschutes Brewery, a walk or short drive away from the Old Mill. The pavilion will have a full-size ice rink in winter. During the warmer months, the facility will have courts for basketball, pickleball and tennis and will host other activities.
It is a pretty good time to look for a home in and around the heart of Bend.
To learn more about the Bend market, get started with listing your Bend home, or to view area homes contact me call (541) 383-1426, or visit Bend Property Search to connect with me through my website.