Four years after the land was purchased by a developer, the first of at least a thousand planned housing units are almost ready for sale in one of Bend’s largest planned communities, the initial steps in a sizable southeastward expansion that will add badly needed housing supply.

At the southeast Bend Stevens Ranch community, 15 single-family homes are being built, with the first expected to hit the market in October, according to Bethany Carle, a spokesperson for builder D.R. Horton.

Up to 4,000 new units of housing are planned between the 375-acre Stevens Ranch development and the 260-acre Stevens Road Tract, which lies directly to the east.

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The more easterly parcel was added to the city’s urban growth boundary in fast fashion thanks to a 2021 act of the Oregon Legislature. It has yet to be annexed into the city limits. Stevens Ranch was added to the city’s urban growth boundary during the comprehensive expansion in 2016.

Both Stevens Ranch and Stevens Road Tract were held by the Department of State Lands and sold to benefit a public fund for schools across the state.

A pipeline separates the two properties, which form a square south of Stevens Road and east of 27th Street.

Detached single-family homes will start in the low $600,000s, Carle said. Attached homes will start in the high $400,000s when they become available later this year.

The Stevens Ranch Master Plan, which was approved by the city in 2021, is the blueprint for housing, businesses and a new transportation system proposing construction of 1,700 units, including 700 multifamily units and 350 single-family homes.

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The city has signed off on specific plans for the first six phases of development, which will include nearly 600 total housing units.

Only land for the first phase of development — about 150 units — was sold to D.R. Horton. The rest is still held by major Bend landowner and former California politician Gary Miller, who purchased the parcel with others in 2020 under the Lands Bend Corp. for $22 million.

Concepts for the development property have not changed since the master plan was adopted a few years ago. The owner did submit a plan amendment request last week, which would result in minor shifts equivalent to “moving colors around,” not a change in the size of any commercial or residential designation, said Karen Swenson, senior planner with the city of Bend.

Along with residential lands, Stevens Ranch will include 46 acres of commercial land, 92 acres of industrial land, 22 acres of open space and 10 acres for an elementary school.

Construction is also underway on a new library at Stevens Ranch, the Bend Central Library, which is on track to open in 2026.