The city’s affordable housing plan hasn’t been updated since 2007.
According to Community Development Department records, 197 residential building permits were issued for new single-family homes last year — the most since 2007. Commercial building permits, with 15 issued for new construction, saw growth for the first time in eight years. And planning permit activity — which speaks to future growth — saw a 500 percent increase from 2014.
The 2007 affordable housing plan expired in 2012.
The plan — along with any updates it might receive — was derailed when the recession hit, with almost none of its seven priorities completed. These include goals like taking an inventory of existing land to identify potential surplus land for affordable housing, creating incentives for developers to build affordable housing and supporting homeowner education.
(READ MORE: Bend Bulletin)
