OSU-Cascades 4-Year campus moved another step closer
in early February with university officials closing the $5 million purchase of
the initial 10 acres of a planned 56 acre complex at the corner of SW Century
Drive and SW Chandler Avenue on Bend’s west side.
Also related to the first 10-acre phase, to include
academic and on-campus living facilities, the university and the City of Bend
have signed a memorandum of understanding that addresses land use and
development application procedures.
Purchase of the 10 acres was completed nearly
simultaneously with OSU-Cascades announcement that it has raised $4.6 million
in private funding, exceeding its goal
to match $4 million in university bond funds. The legislature has also
approved $16 million in general obligation state bonds for the 4-year
expansion.
Meanwhile the 4-year campus plan has aroused some public
concern over transportation and housing impacts on the city’s west side. The
university has said it wants to encourage more on-campus living and public
transportation while city officials plan to review ordinances that would apply
to multiple occupant rental housing.
Engineers are also studying other issues, including how soils in the former pumice mine site comprising the remaining 46 acres would handle water runoff.
Engineers are also studying other issues, including how soils in the former pumice mine site comprising the remaining 46 acres would handle water runoff.
The university has scheduled public meetings on the project, the first for
Feb. 27 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm and another Feb. 28, from noon to 1:30 pm in
Cascades Hall of the Central Oregon Community College campus.
Previous posts on the OSU-Cascades
4-Year campus quest
