Core Area Advisory Board Meeting - 8/20/26 - 3:00 PM

The City of Bend, Oregon Core Area Advisory Board meeting on August 20, 2026, focused extensively on development incentives and property improvement programs aimed at revitalizing the core area. Key procurement-related discussions included exploring time-limited development incentives such as system development charge (SDC) waivers to encourage adaptive reuse and new market development, with a developer roundtable scheduled to further assess these proposals. The board recommended that the Burough approve a property improvement grant program, including tenant improvement grants with a proposed scoring and weighting system to objectively evaluate applications based on project readiness, financial capacity, business viability, and alignment with urban renewal goals. The meeting also covered strategic property acquisition scenarios, emphasizing criteria for prioritizing parcels for redevelopment, potential city-led development roles, and the importance of maintaining affordability and supporting local businesses. Additionally, the board discussed theme and pillar development for the core area, with an emphasis on balancing growth with preserving the district's unique character. The meeting concluded with plans for upcoming RFPs related to the BCD concept plan and a call for continued commitment from board members due to the significant workload ahead.