Bend, OR – The highly anticipated Jackstraw housing development in Bend is already stirring debate as locals voice mixed opinions on the project’s impact on the city’s housing crisis. As construction begins on the massive 322-unit complex at the Box Factory, residents are grappling with the question of whether the new development will meet the pressing need for affordable housing.
Local residents, including Todd Yule, acknowledge the city’s growing housing shortage, with Bend expected to see 15,000 new residents by 2030. “Bend needs way more housing than it currently has, so it’s a good thing for that,” Yule said. “But I wish it was a little bit more affordable.”
However, affordability remains a central issue for many. The Jackstraw project has drawn criticism from residents like Dakotah Daily, who raised concerns about the lack of low-cost options in the development. “The housing looks cool and everything, but I’m pretty suspicious that we need more development that doesn’t include affordable housing,” Daily said.
Jonathan Taylor, the Urban Renewal Manager for the City of Bend, responded to these concerns by explaining that the project was designed to address a specific need in the local housing market. “While we understand the confusion about why this project didn’t have some level of affordability, what we also have to realize is that there are 15,000 people that will move to Bend by 2030, and not every single one of them can own a home, nor will they qualify for the low income,” Taylor said. “So this meets a middle-income need.”
The term “middle income” refers to households that earn 120% or less of the area median income (AMI). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the AMI for Bend in 2023 is $88,792. Based on this, a household would qualify for one of the Jackstraw units if they earn $106,554 or less. For a single person, the qualifying income would be $56,878. While these figures are far above the income thresholds for low-income housing, Taylor emphasized that the development’s middle-income focus was designed to cater to a broad swath of Bend’s population, especially as housing demand continues to rise.
Still, the inclusion of affordable housing remains a topic of concern. Taylor pointed to the potential benefits of increasing housing supply in general. “More supply equals less demand. So therefore, it helps stabilize the rent prices,” he said, suggesting that the new development could alleviate some pressure on the broader market. However, for many residents, this explanation does little to quell concerns about the lack of options for low-income earners.
According to the city, a small portion of the Jackstraw complex—just a handful of the 322 units—will be reserved for lower-income earners, those making 60% of the AMI. These units are expected to provide some relief to individuals and families struggling to find affordable housing in Bend’s competitive market. Still, critics argue that the overall scale of the project falls short of what is needed to fully address the housing crisis in the area.
As the development progresses, the debate over affordable housing is expected to intensify. With Bend’s population on the rise, the Jackstraw project is just one piece of a much larger puzzle that will determine the city’s future housing landscape. For now, local residents are left wondering: Will the new units provide much-needed relief, or will they serve only to further widen the gap between middle-income and low-income housing options?
