The Orchard District Neighborhood Association is a non-profit organization that connects residents, businesses, and local government about land use, transportation, and other community issues. We are recognized by the City of Bend as one of 13 Neighborhood Districts (formerly and commonly referred to as Neighborhood Associations) that are consulted on a variety of decisions.
NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD
The Orchard District Neighborhood Board is a volunteer board that is voted in by the members of the association to represent the neighborhood and manage its finances and activities. Anyone who lives, works, and rents or owns property within the neighborhood boundaries is considered a member. Please sign up for the email list to register your membership. Voting takes place at the annual neighborhood meeting, which is typically held in April or May at the Hollinshead Barn. The governing document is the by-laws.
Connecting with your Neighborhood District helps you stay informed about what’s happening in your neighborhood
With the City of Bend continuing to grow it’s important to understand how development in the state of Oregon works. Listen to this episode of the City’s podcast Inside Bend to hear the City’s Community Relations Manager Makayla Oliver share information on Land Use education materials and how your Neighborhood District can help get you involved in the planning and development processes.
Board Meetings
Board Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of most months at 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and are open to the public. We welcome your participation and feedback! Contact orcharddistrictneighborhood@gmail.com if you’d like to attend so we can provide the agenda and address. Occasionally, the meeting is available on Zoom in response to health or logistical issues.
Board Members
- Orchard District Board Membership
Board Position Name Current Term Chair Brian Durbin Apr. 2024 – Apr. 2026 Vice Chair Vacant Secretary Jessica Fredeen Apr. 2024 – Apr. 2026 Treasurer Ron Paradis Apr. 2023 – Apr. 2025 Land Use Danielle Powell Apr. 2023 – Apr. 2025 At Large Andrew Gorman Apr. 2023 – Apr. 2025 At Large Frank Cobarubbia Apr. 2023 – Apr. 2025 At Large Hal DeShow Apr. 2023 – Apr. 2025 At Large Robin Lewis Apr. 2024 – Apr. 2026 At Large Tawny Howlett Apr. 2024 – Apr. 2026 Updated as of May 2024
COMMUNITY
Demographics
Did you know that the Orchard District is in the most diverse census tract in the City of Bend?
- You will find a greater proportion of Millennials living here than in other neighborhoods.
- Residents are more likely to live in poverty.
- We are the most racially diverse neighborhood in Bend with close to 2x more Black residents and 3x more Latinx residents than the rest of the City.
- Our neighbors are more likely to rent their homes than to own.
- There are hundreds of local businesses that provide jobs and services in our neighborhood.
- 17.4% of Orchard District residents speak Spanish at home.
- Residents rely on bicycling, walking, and transit as modes of transportation.
- More about neighborhood demographics here.
Neighborhood Survey
The Orchard District Neighborhood Association does an annual survey of its members and sets goals based on their input.
- News Release: Community Survey Results Show Concern About Housing and Homelessness
Every two years, the City of Bend commissions a Community Survey, which serves as one of many inputs to City Councilors as they embark on their two-year goal setting process. Council goals provide direction to City staff and influence the City’s two-year budget.
Recent survey respondents in Bend said addressing homelessness and increasing the availability of affordable housing were top concerns they want to see addressed. Transportation has receded as an issue since the last biennial survey, with relatively strong levels of satisfaction about road conditions and fewer concerns about congestion.
Learn more HERE.
PRIORITIES
We believe the biggest problems impacting the livability of Bend are:
• Lack of affordable housing, including services for our unsheltered neighbors
• Unsafe, inconvenient, disconnected transportation: no sidewalks or crosswalks
on most of NE 8th street, no crosswalk on Greenwood & NE 6th St., poor
crumbling/sidewalks on Third Street, dangerous crossings of Third Street and US
97/Railroad to get between our neighborhood and downtown on Greenwood and
Franklin, unsafe roads in neighborhoods (9th/10th/12th off of Greenwood, Seward,
Shepard, Daggett, NE Lafayette & 8th, NE Quimby & 8th), lack of usable transit
options, unsafe biking conditions.
• Equity: inequitable treatment and outcomes for BIPOC, low-income, and disabled
residents.
• Environment: loss of big trees, pollution, climate impacts
Board Goals & Work Plan
- Board Goals & Work Plan 2021-23
Based on survey input, data, discussion, and shared values, the board developed the following goals:
Goal 1: CAPACITY
Build sustainable capacity to achieve goals with efficiencies, systems, resources, and use of volunteers
Goal 2: REPRESENTATION
Improve how we listen to and represent the neighborhood, especially our BIPOC, Latinx, low-income, and disabled neighbors
Goal 3: COMMUNICATION
Improve communication tools so residents and businesses can get the information they are seeking and the Orchard District can engage our constituents to work toward vision
Goal 4: BUILD COMMUNITY
Build an inclusive and welcoming community where everyone in the Orchard District feels safe, connected, and supported.
Goal 5: ISSUE ADVOCACY
Effectively educate & advocate on land use (a place to call home for everyone, vibrant mixed-use, nature in city, community gathering spaces) & transportation (safe and convenient bike/ped/transit options, quieter streets within core of neighborhood) issues