Redmond’s third urban renewal district, along S. Hwy. 97, nears final hurdle

(Update: Adding video, comments, link to draft plan)

REDMOND, Ore (KTVZ) -- The section of U.S. Highway 97 in southern Redmond isn't the safest stretch around.

Meghan Gassner, the city of Redmond's urban renewal program analyst, said Thursday, "We are currently averaging 43 crashes per year through there. And we expect that number to at least double, if no improvements are made."

Gassner hopes the plan for the city's third urban renewal district can help.

It's scheduled to be voted on by Deschutes County commissioners next week.

"This is been part of a decades-long, decades' work of effort to really make some improvements along South 97," Gassner said.

The plan involves improvements including bike paths and landscaping. It also calls for new traffic lights in the district.

In total, the plan encompasses 1300 acres.

The easy part of this plan to focus on is that Highway 97 corridor, but the most land involved is actually down south of the Deschutes County fairgrounds: about 1,000 acres of undeveloped land.

This land, which was recently annexed by the city, does not have much appeal to it now.

But Jon Stark, senior director of Redmond Economic Development Inc., sees plenty of opportunity.

"The types of companies that might look at is large scale manufacturing and distribution," Stark said Thursday.

Right now, there isn't much to work with on the land, but Stark says under a master plan, several 50+ acre parcels will be available, and urban renewal will help prepare them.

"Urban renewal will help stimulate development there by providing resources to help finish that infrastructure," Stark said.

Ultimately, the new business park will align with Redmond's blue-collar feel.

"And I think to kind to fit that mold, manufacturing would be a really good fit for that,” Stark said.