Bend’s ‘Parkside Place’ aims to bring more affordable housing to Central Oregon

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) A new housing development aimed at improving affordability in Central Oregon is now underway.

Hayden Homes held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its latest subdivision, Parkside Place, located in east Bend just off Highway 20. The project is designed to provide more affordable housing options in a region facing ongoing demand.

Parkside Place is part of a pilot program created by the state of Oregon in 2016. As part of that effort, the city agreed to expand its urban growth boundary with the condition that 30 percent of new construction would be designated as affordable housing.

Hayden Homes is exceeding that requirement, committing 40 percent of the homes in the Parkside Place development to be affordable.

The company worked alongside state and county lawmakers to bring the project to life.

“Like, no one person, no one entity can solve the housing crisis,” said Craig Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Hayden Homes. “And it's really about a bunch of people coming together, all from different perspectives and with different resources to create an opportunity.”

Once complete, the subdivision will include 346 homes. According to project leaders, people are expected to begin moving into completed homes within weeks.