New SE Bend Roundabout Claims Homes

ODOT’s plans for a roundabout in one southeast Bend neighborhood is forcing one family to pack up and move out. On Thursday, one woman who is renting a home said it was bought by the state, and she was given a notice to leave.

“It was pretty crazy,” said Jessica Blair. “They just said, ‘Hey, you need to be out.'” Me and ODOT did get in a few arguments over the situation, and I told them I was going to get an attorney, and they told me that I couldn’t.”

ODOT and the city of Bend are partnering on a series of projects on the south end of the Bend Parkway, including the Murphy Road corridor, and that includes plans to construct a roundabout at Murphy Road and Parrell Road in southeast Bend.

Blair has been renting the house on Murphy Road for seven months. She found out the news from her landlord, who decided to accept ODOT’s offer.

“Our landlord told us the city was going to buy the house and take it over, and then we would have to deal with it from there,” said Blair. “So, ODOT showed up and started giving us settlement amounts so we could move out.”

Blair said ODOT gave her three months to move; an ODOT spokesman said he could not go into details but that she’d been offered roughly $10,000 to help cover a year’s worth of rent.

“We’re making a yeoman’s effort to place her in another home,” ODOT’s Peter Murphy said Friday. “We really are bending over backwards to try to accommodate her.”

But Blair says having a dog, a young child and credit trouble is not making it easy.

“Its hard for me to get into another place because of my credit, so it’s extremely difficult, especially not having any rental places except for this,” Blair said.

To make way for a roundabout, ODOT made some offers and they were accepted by the homeowners. They picked up one home and moved it to a new spot, and have the same plans for another home in the area.

ODOT spokesman, Peter Murphy said he understands it can be frustrating, for some folks, but the state is helping people through the process. And homeowners, renters, and some neighbors received compensation.

“They’re going to use a little bit of my property just for equipment,” said Shirley Moody, who lives in the area. “I got to take down my fence, and it will be a hassle for a few months, but it will be better.”

Moody said she will get some money for lending her property to the crews, and she’s just ready to see a change in her neighborhood.

“It’s going to slow down the traffic,” Moody said. “It’s really busy here. And it will improve the look of the area a little bit too I think.”

ODOT does not have an exact date to start the work. Construction bids will be sought next spring.

Blair said she’s hoping to find a new home for her and her baby in Redmond.