‘I’ll have stability’: It was ribbon-cutting and move-in day at Kôr Land Trust’s Crescita Community in NE Bend
(Update: Adding video, comments from land trust executive director, homeowners)
Each homeowner received an electric bike at event
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Kôr Community Land Trust just opened another affordable homeownership community in northeast Bend. There was a ribbon-cutting celebration Friday for the Crescita Community.
Rashelle Maplethorpe is a new homeowner at the community on NE Eighth Street. She's been living in a Westside apartment, where rent has increased significantly.
"It feels like I'll have more control over my life and my stability," she said.
Friday was move-in day for Maplethorpe, who will now live in a two-story, one bedroom home at a cost of a $1,000 to $1,200 a month.
About 60 people applied to own a home at Crescita. Maplethorpe and her neighbors had to go through the application process and were selected through a lottery.
Denise Rowcroft said, "We were really excited. We actually didn't tell (her daughter) until the foundation started to go in."
Her daughter, Nora Sites, said, "You waited six months."
"I waited six months because we wanted to make sure it was real," Rowcroft said.
Kôr Community Land Trust is a nonprofit creating affordable homeownership communities for Central Oregon's workforce.
Crescita has five-units -- the first homes offered by Kôr this year.
Executive Director Jackie Keogh said, "Our homes that are priced for households earning 80% area median income or less are $185,000 sales price."
Solar systems are in place to keep utilities more affordable, at $12 a month. Homeowners were also given electric bikes at the ribbon cutting.
The goal for is to put 50 more units in Bend, and then expand to places like La Pine and Prineville.
Maplethorpe had applied before and was not selected in the random lottery, which made her extra-grateful this time around.
"I had kind of given up on home ownership in this area," she said. "I thought it was just a dream I had to let go. But seeing what they were doing, I was like, 'I think this this could happen for me.'"
Kôr Community Land Trust is a nonprofit creating affordable homeownership communities for Central Oregon's workforce.
Another Kôr community, Poplar, will ahve seven units and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. After that, work begins on 40 units for the Simpson Community on Bend's Westside.
Here is the press release:
Kôr Community Land Trust recently announced the ribbon-cutting of its Crescita Community at noon on Friday. The general public is invited to attend and tour the completed affordable homeownership community.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone, Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler, several city council members and other dignitaries and supporters were among those attending the event.
“The Crescita Community provides sustainable affordable homeownership opportunities to five households, all of whom are part of Bend’s local workforce,” Keogh said in the opening announcement. “This community reflects Kôr’s commitment to provide quality homes to those who support our economy.”
The Crescita Community is a five-unit affordable homeownership community that includes five net-zero homes and a carbon-neutral common area. As a testament to Kôr’s commitment to building sustainable communities, all homeowners will receive their own electric bikes at the event.
The community is funded by Oregon Housing Community Services, Washington Federal Bank, the City of Bend, Pacific Power Foundation and All Points North Foundation.
The development team includes Full Circle Design, Ashley & Vance Engineering, Blackmore Planning, Earth Advantage, Energy Trust of Oregon, York Bros. Excavation, and S&F Land Services.
