Our editorial board has already established its position regarding the construction of the proposed apartment complex near The Pavilion in Bend. In a housing crisis, it is unconscionable for a city not to approve apartments on land that’s been privately, legally obtained by owners who have adhered to the rules for developing such a property.
Were there controversy around the legality of the development, that would be cause for concern. But the arguments against the complex err on the side of emotion instead. Detractors decry that the developer is from Seattle, Wash. They worry, with the five-story height, that the apartments will make McKay Park too shady. One commenter at a recent city public hearing even accused the hearings officer of “being a land use attorney”—as if obtaining a Juris Doctorate and specializing in land use somehow makes one less qualified to address land use issues. Detractors also worry that nearby street parking will become a challenge—forgetting that if they, too, need street parking, it means that they’ve been allowed something that they now don’t want a new resident to have.
The feeling that comes out of arguments such as these is the feeling that Bend is inherently afraid of outsiders. “We don’t want to be Portland lite” is a common fear-mongering statement bandied about in Bend—an argument that skips over the fact that a good majority of us came from there, grew up there, or see Oregon’s largest city as the cultural center of our state.
This fear of outsiders is fraught with so many contradictions.
By the numbers, most Bendites were outsiders once. This issue is the drawbridge mentality at its worst, once again.
But this clannish mentality has another facet: It honors homogeneity and invites racism. Bend has long been a highly homogenous community. As we grow, diversity increases—including a diversity of opinions, skill sets and visages, and we should welcome that. When we reject the growth that is already so inevitable in our community, we reject that diversity, and we show an ugly, xenophobic, “fear of other” side of our city that we shouldn’t be proud to show—and one we should stand up against.
This article appears in Jan 16-23, 2019.
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The skyline laws that were changed by the city in the 90’s, from not allowing anything over three stories to allowing light pollution, all in favor of growth and business are part of the problem. It is funny how it didn’t matter as much when the big complexes were on the East side. They are looking for a special permit for the Fifth floor, not guaranteed. This is what the hearings are for. The State has also mandated less parking to force alternatives to driving, most people want and have cars? The future of our transit system is a whole other issue. I see the Pros and Cons of the issue. Bend needs a clearer vision of what it wants to be, will business, environment, or lifestyle win the day?
My biggest concerns is the two roundabouts will not be able to handle the increased traffic and I wonder if the project would pencil out without the 5th floor otherwise if the developer has meet all the conditions for approval then the project should proceed. It really should have no bearing where the developer is from. Imagine the uproar if he was from California!
From my experiences with apartment developments in Bend, the community should be VERY concerned that the corrupt City of Bend Planning Department will not uphold the development codes.
When they approved a questionable apartment development in my neighborhood, the city did not enforce codes related to transportation, compatibility, and landscaping, leaving us with an out-of-compliance eyesore.
In the instance I am referring to, the official planning decision document explicitly stated Conditions of Approval that trees be planted. Our neighborhood fought tooth and nail to get these conditions, which should not have been necessary as the trees were already required by city code. Regardless of city code and the conditions of this particular approval, the developer did not plant the trees and the city did nothing. I brought this to the attention of City Manager Eric King, among many others. Nobody in the city cares.
This city’s leadership repeatedly demonstrates they only care about the almighty dollar.
You misuse the word xenophobia. Hatred of Jews is xenophobia. Hatred of Muslims in xenophobia.
John: From Merriam-Webster: “Definition of xenophobia
: fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign…. If you look back to the ancient Greek terms that underlie the word xenophobia, you’ll discover that xenophobic individuals are literally “stranger fearing.”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary…
Another apartment complex opponent has characterized it as a “Cabrini Green” on the Deschutes River. And there was the quote in the Bulletin from an opponent who characterized Colorado St. as the “gateway to all that is beautiful in Bend” without specifying which direction on Colorado the gateway leads, but, Westside elitism seems at play here. These apartments will not be public housing by any means. Nor will they qualify as affordable housing. None of the usual stuff that infuriates elitists. So, why all the fuss? Xenophobia? Maybe so.
The main issue with this development is the impact it has on the most loved and visited part of the Deschutes within Bend city limits. The editorial board’s characterization of the discussion as xenophobic is wildly overreaching. This project has attracted anger because time and time again the voice those who live and work here are ignored by the self interest of developers.
Also, we have a specific kind of housing crisis – affordable. This is a high end apartment complex. It is a fallacy to believe that competition within high end housing equals affordable housing. Competition in affordable housing equals affordable housing. The city is being further and further divided by the inequality of development on East and West sides and this unhealthy trajectory the city is taking is going is exacerbating the socio-economic issues we’re already experiencing. If we need housing so bad then why are there single family homes on 20 acre lots planned in the Discovery NW development that is within the UGB!? Where is the editorial board’s criticism of discovery northwest if you are truly concerned about the -affordable -housing crisis?