The Parks at Eastlake Village in Bend provide 40 units to low-income residents.
Amanda Peacher / OPB
Over the past year, Bend’s leadership has passed new policies to alleviate the city’s affordable housing crisis. This week, city councilors continued that trend by approving the sale of several city-owned lots.
The low-cost sale of the properties makes it economically feasible for developers to build apartments with below-market rents.
Councillors also voted to help fund more than 150 new affordable housing units to the tune of $1.5 million. The money comes from an affordable housing fee on all new permits and construction.
Until recently Bend was the only Oregon city with an affordable housing fee on the books, because the city policy was grandfathered in before the state legislature banned those types of fees.
But with the end of that statewide ban earlier this year, Portland and other Oregon cities are now following Bend’s lead on affordable housing fees.