Hayden Homes chosen for new 262-acre SE Bend development with focus on affordable housing for educators
Gregory Deffenbaugh
(Update: adding video, adding information on project, statements from Hayden Homes representative)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — In southeast Bend, a major development is moving forward on what’s known as the Stevens Road Tract. It’s more than 260 acres of land near 27th Street and Reed Market Road, and it won’t be vacant much longer.
The property was offered for sale more than a year ago. Now, it’s set to become a new neighborhood — Hayden Homes has been selected to purchase the land and lead its development.
KTVZ News received a written statement from Deb Flagan, Vice President of Community Engagement for Hayden Homes, about what the project and opportunity means to their company.
“As a private homebuilder founded and based in Central Oregon, we are grateful for the opportunity to produce much-needed housing in our region. When we provide more Central Oregonians with the opportunity to own their own home, we are contributing to local economic development and helping to build a strong community,” said Flagan.
Plans call for roughly 2,500 homes, including market-rate units and 20 acres of deed-restricted affordable and workforce housing. Many of those homes will prioritize local educators and school staff.
Hayden Homes’ nonprofit, First Story, offers zero-down, zero-interest mortgages for eligible households. Educators already make up about 15% of First Story families.
The neighborhood will feature parks, walking and biking paths, and transit connections.
This project sits adjacent to the Stevens Ranch development, which sold in 2020. Together, the two properties total more than 600 acres of new housing and infrastructure in southeast Bend.
Beyond local impact, Flagan notes, “The Stevens Road Tract sale is a landmark example of the transformative potential of land use and public-private partnerships. The proceeds of the sale will go to the Common Schools Fund, which in turn helps to fund public schools across our state.”
With Bend projected to need more than 33,000 new homes over the next 20 years, the Stevens Road Tract represents a significant step toward meeting the city’s housing needs — for educators, families, and working Oregonians alike.
Earlier story — BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — September 11th — The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) has selected Hayden Homes, a homebuilder based in Redmond, Oregon, to purchase and develop the Stevens Road Tract, a 260-acre property located in southeast Bend. The project, guided by the requirements of House Bill 3318 (2021), will bring a new neighborhood to the area and help meet the increasing demand for housing in Bend.
Located near 27th Street and Reed Market Road, the Stevens Road Tract will be transformed into a community featuring approximately 2,500 residential units. The development will prioritize long-term housing affordability with 20 acres of deed-restricted affordable and workforce units for both rent and homeownership. A significant portion of these homes will be reserved for local educators and other school district employees. Additionally, the development will include market-rate housing, parks, and transportation options that support walking, biking, and public transit.
Once the sale is finalized, the proceeds will be deposited into Oregon’s Common School Fund, which distributes earnings to public school districts across the state each year.
“The Stevens Road Tract reflects what is possible when state lands are managed with both purpose and vision,” said Kaitlin Lovell, director of the Oregon Department of State Lands. “This sale will support Oregon’s public schools through the Common School Fund and help address a critical need for affordable housing in one of our state’s fastest-growing communities. It is especially meaningful that educators, those who dedicate their lives to our children’s futures, will be among those who benefit most.”
Hayden Homes is recognized for its commitment to providing affordable housing for working families. The company’s nonprofit arm, First Story, offers zero-down, zero-interest home loans to qualifying buyers, including educators and first-time homeowners.
“Hayden Homes is honored to be selected for this innovative housing project,” said Steve Klingman, president of Hayden Homes. “Stevens Road Tract will impact generations of Oregonians not only by providing attainable homeownership and long-term housing affordability in Bend, but also through an investment in public schools statewide. Our local educators are hometown heroes who are instrumental in building a strong community. Hayden Homes is proud of our longstanding commitment to building homes priced for educators and other hardworking Oregonians.”
The sale of the property is being managed by Cushman & Wakefield, which also represented the state in the successful sale of the adjacent Stevens Ranch property in 2020. Together, the two developments will add more than 600 acres of planned housing and community infrastructure to southeast Bend.
Note: The information in this article was provided by the Oregon Department of State Lands