Central Oregon News Digest
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The Winter 2010 issue of The Garner Group’s Central Oregon News Digest has been delivered by e-mail to approximately 1,500 clients, friends and colleagues. Compiled from news reports by our staff, the newsletter summarizes events relative to the Bend area real estate market, economic news, major development projects and Central Oregon growth in general.We have been producing the newsletter since early 2006. Initial issues went out by mail, but we soon switched to e-mail as a more effective means of communicating with our friends and clients. E-mail distribution also permits us to keep our list of recipients fresh and up to date. Response has been gratifying, encouraging us to keep the newsletter in a prominent position among the information services provided by The Garner Group.
Please use the sign-up form at left if you wish to keep abreast of economic news in Bend and Central Oregon. We’ll make sure you receive future issues without obligation. Download a PDF copy of the Winter 2010 newsletter. Either way, you will be able to read the complete newsletter, highlights of which are summarized below.
Here are some headlines from the latest issue:
State says no to Bend UGB expansion plan. City council members have decided to appeal the rejection by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development of the city's plan to extend the urban growth boundary around another 8,462 acres. Asserting its veto power over local land use planning, the agency took issue with several details but focused primarily on the state's vision that growth be inhibited to encourage higher density. The city has spent $4 million and four years developing the plan, approved early last year. The appeal will go to the state Land Conservation and Development Commission.Region paces state population growth. While the economy suppressed population growth last year, Deschutes County recorded the highest growth rate in the sate at 2.2%. Washington County, in metro Portland, was next at 1.4%, then Crook and Jefferson at 1.3% and 1.2%. Latest population estimates from the PSU Population Research Center: Deschutes 170,705; Crook 27,185, Jefferson 22,715, Bend 82,280, Redmond 25,800, Prineville 10,370, Madras 6,650.
Central Oregon to lead state's job growth. Oregon Employment Department economists predict Central Oregon will add 11,000 new jobs by 2018, growing 14% to 92,340 jobs. Most growth will occur late in the period. Statewide job growth through 2018 is projected at 9%.
Facebook picks Prineville for server farm. Social networking giant Facebook Inc. has begun construction of a 117,000-sq ft data center on 124 acres in Prineville. The $188.2 million project, to house network servers and supporting equipment, should be complete in 2011 and will support 200 construction jobs.
COCC, Old Mill developer will collaborate. Central Oregon Community College is pairing with William Smith Properties to develop the 40-acre Campus Village site near the COCC campus in Bend and a 15-acre residential tract nearby. Campus Village will combine retail, residential, shopping, restaurants, parks and trails. Centerpiece will be a $4.1 million center for COCC's Culinary Institute. Smith developed Bend's Old Mill District.
Luxury hotel opens downtown. The $12 million Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend opened in January with 59 rooms and a full complement of facilities including a restaurant/bar, 2,000-sq ft banquet room and fitness center. It is billed as a boutique hotel offering upscale amenities and services.
Cycle events bring visitors, money to area. Bend's emergence as a venue for national cycling events is paying dividends. The 2009 USA Cycling Junior, U23 and Elite Road National Championships July 28-Aug. 2 generated an estimated $1.44 million in tourist spending by 2,840 people. The USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships Dec. 10-13 brought about 2,500 visitors to Bend and generated $1.08 million in spending. Both events will return to Bend in 2010, the road event with an expanded schedule.
Motorcycle, motor coach owners return. Two major fan events returning to the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center next summer will contribute an estimated $30 million to the region's tourist economy. The BMW Motorcycle Owners of America International Rally July 15-18 and the Family Motor Coach Assn. International Rally and Convention Aug. 11-14 will attract 9,000 and 5,000 people, respectively.
State looking for cheaper north end road fix. Oregon Department of Transportation officials are taking the scissors to plans for a massive overhaul of streets and highways near the shopping district formed by Highways 20 and 97 and Cooley Rd. at the north edge of Bend. Two years of planning and public hearings created a wish list that pushed the cost estimate to $320-$410 million, enough to stall the project indefinitely. ODOT is looking for a simpler arrangement that would retain the present highway alignment and drop the cost to $100-$200 million.
New route would help airport, fair traffic. City and county officials are putting weight behind a plan to extend 19th St. from Redmond to Deschutes Junction. Providing an alternative route from Highway 97 at Deschutes Market Rd. to Airport Way, the six-mile connection would siphon off some of the traffic to and from Roberts Field and the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center by avoiding the congested Highway 97/Yew Ave. interchange and railway grade crossings. The county is spending $1 million in federal grant money for design and environmental studies.
There's much more. Download a copy.
