DOWNTOWN BEND DEVELOPMENT HONORS HISTORIC COMMUNITY LEADER
One of Bend’s most prominent former citizens will be honored through the naming of a vibrant new condominium, rental housing and retail complex located in the heart of the downtown. Co-developers Housing Works and KemperCo, LLC today announced their joint mixed-use affordable housing community formerly designated as Lava Court will now be called Putnam Pointe after George P. Putnam.
Putnam was a former mayor of Bend and the publisher and editor of the Bulletin in 1912 and 1913. Scion of a prominent New York publishing family, he was an author, an Arctic explorer, and the promoter and husband of Amelia Earhart. He left Bend to become the private secretary for Governor James Withycombe in 1915. Putnam built an Oregon newspaper empire that included the Medford Mail Tribune and Salem’s Capital Journal, later the Statesman Journal.
Because of the significant impact of this long-awaited mixed-use development will have for future generations, Housing Works and its partners wanted a name for the project that would add meaning to the community and honor Bend’s past generations.
“George Putnam literally shaped Bend and shaped Oregon,” said Laura Cooper, Chair of the Housing Works’ Board. “He brought attention to this region with vision that was amazing for its time. The project has similar ambitions for attracting positive attention to and shaping the future of the community in bold and innovative ways.”
The development is located on the corner of Lava Road and Oregon Avenue in Bend’s downtown. Putnam Pointe is an innovative blend of commercial space and housing options including eleven for-sale condominiums. It has been recognized by Bend 2030 as consistent with that organization’s vision for a well planned city.
Community discussion of the need to develop affordable workforce housing began in 2001 with the release of the City of Bend Affordable Housing Task Force’s “Report to the Community”. One of the report’s recommendations was to increase the supply of affordable housing in the city through new construction. After meeting with various community leaders and with the support of the City of Bend, Housing Works developed a plan to construct workforce housing in the downtown core.
The developers of Putnam Pointe are Housing Works and KemperCo, LLC, an award winning Portland-based real estate developer. The organizations providing funding for the mixed-use building are the City of Bend, Bend Urban Renewal Agency, Oregon Housing & Community Services, Bank of the Cascades, Enterprise Community Investments, Inc., the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing, Housing Works, KemperCo, LLC, and the Hayden Enterprises Giving Fund.
Construction of Putnam Pointe began in February 2008 and is expected to be complete in April of 2009. The top floor condominiums, however, are scheduled to be offered for sale on February 21st through a lottery process. On the day of the lottery, applicants who meet the income requirements, agree to the long-term affordability terms and agree to owner-occupy the unit will receive 3 tickets to put in for the condominium of their choice. The first person selected for each of the units will then have the opportunity to enter into a purchase and sales agreement. For more details on qualifying to purchase a condominium and participation in the lottery process, contact Housing Works at 323-7411 or see the Lofts’ web site at www.putnamlofts.com.
