Central Oregon again on upward swing with call centers

            Central Oregon may be the right number when it comes to call centers if the recently announced expansions of the regional industry is an indication.

            In late May, Ibex Global announced it would be adding an estimated 450 employees during the summer, which would push its total work force to about 850.

            The company, formerly known as iSky, reports it has more than 9,000 employees in 18 states. Over the years its clients have included automakers BMW and Honda, as well was American Express, and Owens Corning.

            Based in facilities above the Old Mill District off Wilson Avenue, the company initially began operations as iSky in 2000.

            Also expanding in the area is Consumer Cellular, which plans to expand its Redmond-based work force in the former T-Mobile call center to 600 with the announced addition of 200 employees.

            The hiring represents a rebound from the recession years beginning in 2008 when T-Mobile reported laid off 350 employees in 2012, more than half of the estimated 650 call center jobs lost in a four-year period that began in 2008.

            The announcement of call center expansions comes close to a report by a Facebook consultant that the social media giant accounted for nearly $575 million in contributions to the Oregon economy, including 3,600 jobs from 2009 to 2013.

            Facebook was enticed to Prineville with tax incentives and the availability of lower energy costs to operate the power-hungry data centers.

            Included in the statistics was an estimated $292 million to construct two 330,000 square foot plus Prineville data centers and another 64,000 square foot storage center to archive data for nearly 1.3 billion active users.

            The Prineville construction generated about 1,500 jobs, the report concluded, and the company’s continuing operations in 2013 added another 207 jobs that resulted in a $45 million boost to the regional economy.

            Also scheduled to come online is a Prineville data center for Apple Inc.

           

           

Bend leading state in population growth rate

            It appears that Bend’s population may be catching up to the numbers posted on signs at the city’s outskirts for the past several years--at least in the view of the federal Bureau of the Census.

            In its latest data release the bureau estimates that Bend’s population was 81,236 for the year that ended on July 1, 2013. And that represented a growth of 2,297 newscomers, which put Bend 35^th  among the fastest growing metro areas of more than 50,000 with an increase of 2.9% over the previous year.

            Moreover, it also put the city at the top of Oregon’s cities for growth for the same period, followed by Hillsboro, at 2.1%.

            But the Census Bureau numbers are not in step with population statistics from Portland State University, which estimated Bend’s growth at 1% as of last July, or 78,280 residents.

            Even though Bend experienced population losses attributed to the recession and concurrent regional real estate collapse, city officials did not change the signs entering town that noted more than 80,000 residents.

            In statistics released in early 2011, the bureau had estimated Bend’s population at 76,639 as of July of 2010. But the Population Research Center at Portland State estimated Bend had 83,215 residents at that time.

            So maybe those population signs have been correct at some point in time--like those broken clocks that get it right at least twice a day.

First Quarter 2014 home sales strongest in low to mid range

OSC-Cascades pushes back new 4-year campus opening date

The initial target date of Fall 2014  for OSU-Cascades to have its new 4-year campus ready for freshman appears to have come up against the realities of the land use process.

            OSU-Cascades officials announced in late April that, after conferring with Bend city planners, the original date would likely be difficult to meet.

            The delay was attributed to the city’s expectation that land use permits for the 56-acre campus would be delayed by an expected appeal. That would put the issue before a hearings officer for public testimony instead of in line for a less cumbersome administrative review and decision by planning staff.

            An organization, going by Truth in Site and made up mostly of west side neighbors to the planned campus, has vocally opposed selection of the site along Mt. Washington Drive and SW Chandler Avenue. The initial 10 acres planned for student housing, administrative and classroom space is adjacent to another 46 acres that was a former pumice mine.

            The opposition group contends that site selection did not adequately consdier parking and traffic impacts, and the potential for noise and other disturbances in the neighborhood.

            Truth in Site has maintained that the city’s Juniper Ridge property in northeast Bend would be a better location. But OSU officials have said that location would not appeal to incoming students given it’s distance from the city core, and would be more expensive to develop infrastructure.

            Antipating the possible delay, OSU has said it will be able to provide temporary classrooms and housing on Bend’s west side for incoming freshman in 2015.  The university also said hiring of academic faculty for the 2014 class is already underway.

OSU-Cascades 4-Year Campus closes on first phase land

City of Bend still struggling with growth boundary plan

            As it now stands the City of Bend will have spent 10 years trying to develop it’s state-required Urban Growth  Boundary plan to address land needed to accommodate growth for 20 years.

            During that time since the process began in 2004 the city experienced a boom in housing  that resulted in Bend being ranked No. 1 in the nation for housing appreciation, and a bust in which it fell to last among about 300 statistical areas tracked by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

            (The federal statistics include all of Deschutes County and other areas of Central Oregon--but Bend is and was the largest housing market).

            Bend’s current UGB planning process that began in 2004  resulted in the city approving in 2009 expansion of  the city boundary by about 8,500 acres. The plan was rejected by the state Department of Land Conservation and Development, which sent it back for revision.

            The state agency decided the plan did not account for “infill” property within the current boundary that could be developed, and did not address increasing density to mitigate urban sprawl.

            Earlier in May the city announced it would hire a Portland firm, Angelo Planning Group, to assist in developing a UGB proposal that could meet the new state deadline of 2017-- 13 years after the process began.

           

Tetherow Lodges boutique hotel opens: Hampton nearly finished

            The first of two hotel properties that will add more than 160 lodging rooms in Bend to accommodate business and tourist visits opened in mid-April.

            Tetherow Lodges, billed as a “boutique hotel” with 50 guest rooms, is in two buildings adjacent to the Tetherow golf clubhouse, overlooking the acclaimed links-style golf course designed by David McLay-Kidd.

            Tetherow managing partner Chris van der Velde said that addition of the lodging means that the resort now offers a “complete guest experience with luxury lodging,

Tetherow Lodges under construction February 2014

fine and casual dining, award-winning golf, and access to the amazing outdoor and cultural activities Central Oregon has to offer.”

            The 50 rooms are in one building estimated at 19,800 square feet and the other just over 21,000 square feet. Development costs was initially announced at $10 million.

Hampton Inn nearing completion in late May

            The new facility is designed by Darren Thomas Architecture + Planning with interiors by Kirsti Wolfe Designs. Sunwest Builders was the prime contractor.

            Also nearing completion in mid-May  is the 114-room Hampton Inn & Suites on a 4-acre property in the Old Mill District adjacent to the Les Schwab Ampitheater performing arts venue.

            That facility is a project of Boise-based AmeriTel Inns, which also operates the Hilton Garden hotel above the Old Mill retail area across the Deschutes River. Hilton Garden was originally branded as an AmeriTel Inn.