It can feel like the fight for affordable housing in Bend is a losing battle. We found what could be a small win.

It’s a property at 1565 NE 1st Street in Bend. It would be a two-story, mixed use development. And industrial space would be located below. Five residential units would be above. One additional residential unit would be on the first floor, which could be much more accessible.

The plan is that all six residential units would be designated for low-income tenants and rented to people making 60% of area median income or less.

It might get a property tax exemption because it qualifies as true capital “A” affordable housing. It’s important to recognize what the tax exemption is not, as a summary for the Bend-La Pine School Board pointed out.

This is not the tax exemption program that generated so much controversy with the Jackstraw development, the MUPTE program. The city put that exemption on hold.

This project would be for truly affordable housing in Bend. It may be a small but needed win.