Governor Kotek highlights affordable housing collaborative efforts during Central Oregon tour
Claire Elmer
(Update: adding video, comments from Governor Kotek and Hayden Homes President)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — State and local leaders gathered Monday in Bend and Sisters to spotlight Central Oregon’s progress toward building more affordable homes as part of an ongoing statewide housing push.
Governor Tina Kotek joined members of the Oregon Legislature, local builders, and community advocates at Parkside Place, the first stop on a regional tour of new housing developments.
The tour was arranged to visit real-world examples of Central Oregon’s housing production efforts, public-private partnerships, infrastructure challenges and land use processes – all of which influence development, regionally and statewide.
Participants included leadership and membership from the state Senate and House housing committees and officials with the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO), and Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).
The visit aimed to show how recently passed legislation (HB 4079, HB 3318, and SB 1537) is helping increase the supply of homes for middle-income families — those who earn too much to qualify for assistance but are still priced out of the market.
“The largest economic challenge for our state is not having enough housing, and having housing at the different price points that people need,” Kotek said. “We know the cost of living here in our state is a challenge.”
The Parkside Place neighborhood, developed by Hayden Homes, is among the projects supported by new state measures designed to streamline permitting and strengthen partnerships between private builders and state housing programs.
“I’m really proud of all the folks here — the builders and community leaders — who are making this work,” Kotek said during the visit.
Hayden Homes President Steve Klingman praised the cooperation between public and private sectors, calling it an encouraging sign for long-term solutions.
“The influence of your (Gov. Kotek’s) leadership is opening doors and creating conversations that we have not seen in decades,” Klingman said, adding that Parkside Place “will be home for the hard-working families who are not able to live and work in Bend due to the high housing costs.”
The governor’s stop in Bend was part of her broader effort to meet Oregon’s target of building 36,000 new homes per year. The tour continued in Sisters, where the delegation learned about additional projects aimed at easing housing pressures across rural communities in Central Oregon.
Both state and local officials say these efforts show what’s possible when investment and zoning reforms align to meet Oregon’s growing housing needs.