The City of North Bend has major plans to transform the historic Keizer Bros. Hospital building into much-needed workforce housing, a project aimed at benefiting crucial community members like healthcare workers, teachers, and public safety staff. Housing will be tailored to those who earn too much to qualify for low-income options but find the current market rents out of reach.
Due to the complexity of the regulations and the site itself, the redevelopment process is extensive. North Bend officials have outlined a necessary pre-demolition sequence which includes ensuring historical preservation, conducting environmental safety checks, cleaning up hazardous materials, managing utility and traffic concerns, and securing engineering and funding strategies. "We’re working to turn a 1923 hospital into safe, modern workforce housing for people who keep our community running," reads a statement made by the City of North Bend's official website.
One of the first steps is a historic review because the building, dating back to 1923, requires collaboration with the State Historic Preservation Office and Tribal partners, aiming to preserve its historical value. An environmental check, necessitated by federal housing funds, will ensure future residential safety. Additionally, due to the presence of substances like lead paint and asbestos, a specialized wet demolition is planned to prevent contamination spread.
Rerouting the current below-street utilities, which snake through and around the building, presents another challenge that needs to be carefully addressed. It's also imperative to design a traffic plan that minimizes disruption during construction. Following these steps, a licensed engineer team will assemble to finalize plans for streets, utilities, and sidewalks—a precursor to lining up state, federal, and urban renewal dollars to fund these improvements.
When discussing the project's housing aspect, it's helpful to differentiate between the types of housing involved. According to the City of North Bend's announcement, low-income housing is for those with very low incomes and generally uses federal vouchers. Meanwhile, affordable housing covers a wider range and aims to keep rents at a proportionate level to a household's income. However, this project focuses on workforce housing, intended for full-time employees who find themselves squeezed by the market.
Despite the appearance of inactivity, the project is bustling with behind-the-scenes operations, engaging a diverse team of engineers, historians, environmental specialists, Tribal partners, and funding agencies. Their current efforts ensure that, upon demolition commencement, the foundation for quality homes will be laid for the everyday heroes of North Bend. Residents longing for progress have been assured via a statement on North Bend's website, "a lot is actually going on behind the scenes," promising further updates as the work presses on.
