Project name: Rooted at Simpson

Address: 19755 Simpson Ave. (Corner of Simpson Avenue and SW 18th Street comprises actual location).

Developer: RootedHomes, 150 NE Hawthorne Ave. Bend; Housing Works, Redmond.

Architect: Ten Over Studio, 856 NW Bond St.

General contractor: O’Brien Build and Design, 1777 SW Chandler Ave. An estimated 175 people are working on the project. It will create an estimated 120 permanent jobs in the community.

Cost of the project: $20 million

Details: This is the fourth RootedHomes project in Central Oregon. It includes a 59-unit apartment building built by Housing Works, plus 40 single-family homes of both 2- and 3-bedrooms and 2 baths, using a cottage-cluster style. It will be completed in phases from winter 2025 to spring 2025. The design offers onsite vehicle parking, electric vehicle charging, covered bike parking, community gardens and open green space featuring tree-lined walking and bike paths.

“This project is different from the others as it’s a partnership whereby RootedHomes builds affordable housing and with Housing Works, which is building apartments. We will be using it to duplicate the project throughout Deschutes County,” according to Jackie Keogh, executive director of RootedHomes

‘We don’t want people to displace themselves by leaving an apartment to purchase a home which would mean moving outside the core district of the city, forcing them to travel long distances to their jobs. So, here they can live in an apartment until ready to purchase a home and perhaps move from apartment to home more easily,” Keogh said.

Rooted Homes, a nonprofit, owns the land the homes are built on. So, homebuyers only pay for the home, not the land. That reduces cost considerably.

“We price the homes for someone earning 70% of the area median income. So, a 2-bedroom home may cost about $240,000 and a 3-bedroom $280,000,” she said.

The homes are energy efficient, passive solar and close to net zero in energy use. Hence a resident is expected to only pay $12 a month in utilities to heat the home.

A lottery will open in the summer of 2024 for home applicants. Qualified buyers must show pre-approval of the purchase price of the home.

Preference is given to Housing Work clients so they can move up from an apartment to a home. First-generation homebuyers also get a preference. And major employers — St. Charles Bend or Mt. Bachelor ski area — are are given a preference for their employees.