Ultra-Energy-Efficient 36-Unit Project to be Built in Podium Style Over Parking
In a sign of Bend’s increasing urbanization, a three-story, 36-unit “net zero” energy-efficient multi-family housing development is in the works for the city’s popular Midtown area.
The proposed project, on a 0.63-acre site in the Orchard District at the intersection of Fourth St. and Olney, is slated to include 28 one-bed and eight two-bed units on two levels straddling 44 parking spaces below, for a total 53,300 square feet, in a creative podium style construction.
Along with parking on the ground floor, there will be 1,560 square feet of interior bike and gear storage, as well as a lobby, mail and parcel rooms and utility spaces.
The second floor is set to accommodate a 4,159-square-foot courtyard and 811-square-foot covered porch, and, in a nod to amenities desired in a more connected remote employment world, a 909-square-foot co-working space and meeting room. Half of the units, which range in size from 536 to 917 square feet, will have balconies and all will be equipped with a washer and dryer.
Developers Roost Development LLC say the project, designed by the Bend office of Ten Over Studio, will bring a “new and exciting living experience” to the neighborhood, with a net-zero goal at the heart of creating a safe and sustainable environment.
Site improvements include connecting to the existing alley, as well as providing space on the site for a future roundabout. The residential High Density (RH) Zoned project will feature efficient materials, assemblies and solar on the roof, and a locally commissioned mural will pay homage to the energy of Bend while honoring the creativity of the community.
Roost manager Perry Brooks said the “porch” and the courtyard, situated to face the adjacent streets, will be an inviting outdoor space for the future residents and families to call their own.
He added, “This opportunity has allowed us to jump ahead with pursuing our net zero philosophy, and we will actually be giving back to the electrical grid at the end of the day.
“Building on a podium also allowed a creative solution to fulfilling parking requirements. The site sits four-five feet below grade and in In lieu of surface parking, our cost-benefit analysis showed it was feasible to basically build a concrete deck with parking underneath.
“This is something done in a more urban style that you may see more in cities like Seattle, but is a newer direction here, and think we will see more of this type development as the population continues to increase along with higher density demands and the need for creative infill projects.
“We aim to be at the leading edge in terms of design and net zero goals and to set the bar higher.
“It also makes sense to see more density options coming to the area and we wanted to provide the kind of amenities desired in the modern era. The world has changed and, for example, people looking for more co-working options.
“Sustainability is key, and we have features such as incredibly well-insulated panelized construction systems and high-performance interiors that don’t leak, and a large photovoltaic array as part of achieving net zero goals.”
Brooks said his group was in the process of submitting for design and development permit approval and aimed to break ground on the project by the end of the year.
In a different style but somewhat complimentary fashion in delivering more living options for Bend’s growing population, local micro-housing specialists Hiatus Homes, also has plans on the boards for a “first-of-its-kind” multi-family development in the Midtown area nearby at 445 NE Penn Ave.
The project is envisioned as a stepped, three-story building with 40 lofted flats and four common kitchen/living room facilities with a farm table for communal meals.
The building will also feature a workout room, communal workspace, raised decks, ground level outdoor spaces with fire pits and a rooftop deck with views of Pilot Butte. Transportation includes car share parking as well as bike lockers and electric bike charging stations.
Environmentally friendly laundry detergent brand Dirty Labs has been tapped to collaborate with Hiatus Homes on a state-of-the-art laundry room for tenants.
Hiatus said the “intelligently designed” interior units will feature a sleeping loft, vaulted 13-foot ceilings and large windows creating a flood of light into the space. Each unit is approximately 440 square feet with a lofted bedroom for additional space.
The building is located around the corner from Midtown Yacht Club Food Carts, a walkable location along a bus route. A spokesman added, “Hiatus Homes is delivering the dream of living in Bend to more people, increasing housing density in the region and creating energy efficient, sustainable living with home models that are zero energy ready.”
AND it seems that Bend is undergoing something of a surge in multi-family and mixed-use multiple story projects in various planning stages currently, reflecting a need for increased density within city limits to cater to an ever-expanding demand.
Bend-based BLRB Architects is working on two significant projects on the westside of town, including “Modera Century West” slated for a site at the Century Drive/Reed Market Road/Mt. Bachelor Drive roundabout.
When complete, this new 300,000+ square-foot apartment complex will offer nearly 300 market-rate units and unique on-site amenities “tailored to DIYers, mountain bikers, hikers and other adventure seekers.”
A public plaza, outdoor amenity spaces, fitness room, yoga and sauna room, game and club rooms and outdoor rooftop common use space are also part of the design.
BLRB is also involved with developing plans for a five- six-story mixed-use/multi-family development, including retail and amenities on a portion of the ground floor and 202 residential units at 954 SW Emkay in the Shevlin Corporate Park area.
The design for this 168,000-square-foot mixed use housing project makes the most of a sloping site, maximizing the building footprint and integrating tuck-under parking at the rear of the building.
The facade is divided into discrete elements to visually reduce the length and mass of the building. The BLRB website adds: “The exterior expression invokes the vertical columnar basalt forms of the nearby Deschutes River Canyon and the glass encased corner will offer a distinctive signature feature while allowing transparency to the building’s interior public spaces.”
This project as well as others, including the 210-unit mixed-use Hixon at Westside Yard development on the former Ray’s Food Place site, and a tentative plan for a similar type of project at the former KorPine site in the Old Mill District are pursuant to the relatively recent Mixed Use (MU) Zone.
The MU Zone was introduced in certain areas, particularly around the Westside, by the City of Bend whose updated code said it was: “intended to provide opportunities for vibrant mixed-use centers and districts in areas with high-quality connectivity to and within the area.”
MU projects are intended to allow for a denser level of development of a variety of commercial and residential uses than in surrounding areas with an emphasis on retail and entertainment uses at the street level. They also aim to provide for development that is supportive of transit by encouraging a pedestrian-friendly environment
In a similar vein, more dense mixed-use projects are in the pipeline as part of redevelopment intended to be catalyzed within the Bend Central District (BDC), a rapidly growing area in the heart of the city.
A complex in the design stages for a site at 181 Franklin close to downtown is set to offer pedestrian-friendly street frontage, and 121,000 square feet encompassing four stories of apartments above ground-level mixed use and retail space and multiple on-site resident amenities. Slated for completion in 2023, 181 Franklin is one of the first major redevelopments in the BCD.
Prominent local developers Brooks Resources has also invested in the Blue Dog RV building and parking lot sandwiched between Walgreens and Les Schwab Tire Center on NE Franklin Avenue, which is inside the BCD.
Brooks Resources Director of Planning Dale Van Valkenburg said his company is still in the visioning process for the project and their future decisions will be affected by upcoming code changes for the area and the status of the urban renewal process.
He added, “This is a new thing for Bend, going from a large town to a small city.
“A few examples are the Franklin Crossing Building downtown and what is going up where Ray’s used to be. It’s zoning changes that has allowed those things to happen.
“The problem with the central district is that it’s been neglected — it is now a bunch of old single-story buildings. There are barriers to getting people to want to live there. But urban renewal initiatives lets developers take the risk.”
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