City of Bend sells 94 acres at Juniper Ridge to Taylor Brooks for $8 million, buys 3 Core Area parcels for $3.5 million

(Update: Adding video, comments by Brooks Resources President Kirk Schueler)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Bend City Council on Wednesday evening approved the sale of two lots totaling 94 acres in the Juniper Ridge Area to Taylor Brooks for $8 million and also acquired three lots in the Core area from Taylor Development for $3.5 million for future development - possibly for a new City Hall.

The city agreed to sell the two lots in Juniper Ridge for a total of $8 million. That funding will be allocated to the city’s General Fund as discretionary revenues with the intent of the funds being used to support additional land management strategies and development of property in Juniper Ridge, as well as to support the city’s redevelopment goals within the Core Area.

“The sale of the two lots is another step forward in the development of the Juniper Ridge Area,” said City Manager Eric King. “This is a location the city has identified as a place to invest in more employment and industrial uses that benefit our community.”

This agreement also includes a separate infrastructure agreement for the construction of right-of-way (roads and utilities) by Taylor Brooks in Juniper Ridge, consistent with the Bend Development Code. Required improvements included frontages and sections of NE Cooley Road, Talus Place, 18th Street, Andesite Street, Outcrop Lane, Olivine Road and Igneous Drive.

Brooks Resources President and CEO Kirk Schueler said Thursday that they will be developing the land initially, with an aim to resell smaller parcels.

"So both parcels are zoned light industrial," he said, "and our goal is to subdivide the land into developable lots for end users and speculative buildings that our company, Taylor Brooks, would build."

Schueler said they hope to complete acquisition of the first lot this winter and the second later next year, with development following shortly after.

Councilors also approved the city entering into a purchase and sales agreement with Taylor Development LLC to acquire property in the Core Area at 184 NE Franklin Ave, 615 NE Second Street and 637 NE Second Street for $3.5 million.

The Core Area properties have been identified as locations that can meet the short-term and long-term community needs by ultimately supporting redevelopment goals for the area with future public uses, including the potential development of a new City Hall.

For more information on Juniper Ridge, visit bendoregon.gov/juniperridge.