IronHorse Lodge Bend-based developer of housing for low-income seniors, Pacific Crest Affordable Housing is poised to bring their next environmentally-conscious building to Prineville. The IronHorse Lodge will be completed in two phases and rest within Brooks Resources’ mixed-use planned community, IronHorse, in Crook County.
Each built phase will be a 26-unit building. The buildings will be modeled after their award-winning Little Deschutes Lodge II in La Pine.
The building will serve residents 55 years old and older with household incomes at or below 60 percent of area median income. Median income for Crook County, based on United States Census information from 2008 to 2012, is $40,263. Oregon’s median income is $50,036. The apartments will be divided into categories for those below 30 percent, 40 percent, and 50 percent, as well as 60 percent of area median Income.
The complex will include one and two-bedroom units, common areas, and raised bed-gardens. As with their previous projects, Pacific Crest will adhere to green building standards which will result in buildings that are highly efficient with low utility costs.
The project will utilize three different renewable energy systems, thus allowing Pacific Crest to include utilities in rents and keep their overall costs down. System possibilities include solar photovoltaic (PV) system, a solar thermal system and a geothermal cooling and heating system.
Pacific Crest Affordable Housing has garnered much attention and solidified its standing amongst national low-income housing developers. Their resume includes La Pine’s Little Deschutes Lodge I & II, both 26 unit buildings. In Bend, their Laurel Park Lodge, on Century Drive, houses 54 units and their Discovery Lodge, in Brooks Resources’ NorthWest Crossing, has 53 units.
“We developed the Discovery Park Lodge in NorthWest Crossing that went very well,” explains Pacific Crest Co-founder Jim Gilbert. “So, we decided to partner with Brooks Resources again.”
Much of Pacific Crest’s decision to build in Prineville centers around need and the soon-to-be-built St. Charles Medical Center’ expansion into Prineville. Prineville currently has a poverty rate, senior population, and a senior poverty rate higher than state averages. The IronHorse Lodge seeks to serve the increasing population of seniors paying too much for housing, living in substandard conditions or living without permanent housing. Additionally, Prineville only has one rent-restricted, 40-unit property, built almost twenty years ago.
“According to demographics, Prineville has the need,” says Gilbert. “Crook County has not received any affordable housing funding in the last five years.”
Gilbert’s partner, Rob Roy, concurs, “For those residents who fall into the category, they are very excited. We have been spending a lot of time explaining the process to the community.”
St. Charles Health system is planning to build a new, $30 million hospital to replace their 1950’s era Pioneer Memorial Hospital. The goal is to have the hospital ready by early 2015, pending approval of the hospital board, community members and the St. Charles Health System board.
Pacific Crest is currently in the pre-planning stage of development for IronHorse Lodge. The are putting together the plans to submit to the government for lending. They currently anticipate $5.5 million in soft and hard costs. Hoping to break ground on phase one in April of 2015, the 27,500 square foot building is expected to take between nine months to a year to complete.
Pacific Crest’s ventures in multiple Central Oregon cities highlight the continuing rise in the senior population in Central Oregon. “A huge number of seniors move to Central Oregon to be near their children and families,” says Gilbert. The continual influx often times leads to outdated consensus information, and thus, a growing need for local affordable housing. Roy agrees, “We always have more demand than supply. That’s a statement of poverty.”
Roy and Gilbert teamed up in 2004 to create Pacific Crest Affordable Housing. Ironhorse Lodge will be their fifth affordable housing venture. Currently on the back burner is the McKenzie Meadow Village project in Sisters. Gilbert studied real estate development at Columbia University in New York City. Roy built environmentally friendly tract homes in Canada before moving to Bend in 1988.
Prior to focusing on affordable housing, the pair teamed up to redevelop The Firehall in downtown Bend into a mixed-use restaurant, retail, office and residential condominium space. Since the downtown Bend project, they have set their sights on helping Central Oregon’s senior population.
“Each community is unique,” emphasizes Gilbert. “That makes it exciting. We study each community to see what the needs are.” Roy adds, “It seems like the right thing to do.”
Info: John Gilbert at 541-383-2505 or johngilbert@pacificcrestgroup.org.
Pacific Crest Affordable Housing
5 NW Minnesota Avenue, Bend, OR 97701, 541-383-2505
Partners: Jim Gilbert and Rob Roy
Employees: 4.5
Founded: 2004
Products: affordable housing for seniors in Bend and La Pine.
Hot News: In pre-development stage for affordable housing in Prineville.
Outlook for Growth: Each building illustrates the strong need for affordable housing in Central Oregon.
