By IAN HAUPT/Redmond Spokesman
Federal funding will kick start three Redmond projects set to add housing and improve road safety. The city of Redmond has received $2.25 million for a 30-unit affordable housing development and design phase for traffic and pedestrian improvements for the intersection of state Route 126 (Highland Avenue) and 35th Street. Another $1 million will go to Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity as its first bit of funding for an affordable housing development in southwest Redmond that is three to five years out.
35th Street
The city of Redmond has long targeted the intersection of 35th Street and Highland Avenue as a high-priority, dangerous intersection for both cars and pedestrians. Its long-term goal is to install a traffic light and pedestrian crossing at the intersection that will cost around $4 million. With Redmond Area Park and Recreation District’s Hub Aquatic and Recreation Center set to open this summer about a block south of the intersection and increased traffic expected, keeping the area becomes more important. “It’s been a high priority for the city to get a light there,” Mayor Ed Fitch said.
Fitch said a traffic light will cost $4 million and that the city has had issues working with the Oregon Department of Transportation to secure funding for it. “It’s been very, very frustrating with ODOT on these issues,” Fitch said. “They don’t have any funding for the traffic light. They haven’t been all that helpful, in my opinion, on even these interim measures. They could short-circuit a lot of their discussions on it and get the job done.” The design phase of the project will be covered by $250,000 of the federal funding.
“Improving safety is always a top concern for ODOT, and that includes the OR 126 and 35th Street intersection,” Kacey Davey, spokesperson for ODOT, wrote in an email. “ODOT worked closely with the city of Redmond in 2025 to pursue federal funding for a package of safety improvements at this location.” ODOT requested federal funding that was scoped as a comprehensive safety project, which included pedestrian and bicycle crossings, ADA upgrades, speed-reduction features and a traffic signal as one potential tool to address safety at a fast-growing intersection, but it was only partially funded and did not provide enough funding to deliver the full scope of improvements. While the traffic light is designed and more money pursued, the city is looking at measures that will enhance safety until a traffic light can be installed. Fitch said that may include a right turn lane in and out of 35th Street and pedestrian crossing with a light. “ODOT continues to look for additional funding opportunities and remains committed to working with the city,” Davey said. “In the meantime, since a full project is not currently funded, ODOT is reviewing interim safety improvements such as updated signs, pavement markings and curb changes to help improve safety at the intersection.”
Cinder Hollow
The other $2 million disbursed to the city will be used for a 30-home affordable housing project, called Cinder Hollow, that will be developed by RootedHomes, a nonprofit organization based in Bend. It will be the third affordable housing project RootedHomes has developed in Redmond, with 19th and Antler its first two.
Eliza Wilson, RootedHomes’ executive director, said Cinder Hollow is expected to cost about $26 million and construction is expected to start this year. Wilson expects homes to be on the market in the next two years and cost around $250,000.
Cinder Hollow will be built on an undeveloped piece of land off SW 31st Street near the Redmond Memorial Cemetery. The city purchased the property from Deschutes County in May 2023 with a community development block grant.
Wilson said this is a good example of how the city, a nonprofit and the federal government can work together to ensure money is brought to a local community.
“Really, this would not have moved forward without the amazing advocacy by the city of Redmond,” Wilson said. “I just think at this time we need all of that to make sure that these communities continue to grow and that there are options for people who live and work in Redmond.
Other funding will come from Oregon’s Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) program that provides homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income families.
RootedHomes will also be part of a fourth community in Redmond, called Northpoint, that is being developed by Edlen & Co. out of Portland.
The 40-acre planned mixed-income neighborhood — which the city secured approximately $8.5 million in grant funding for – will feature roughly 450-units of affordable housing in northeast Redmond near Northeast Kingwood Avenue and Northeast 15th Street. RootedHomes will enter into a partnership program to sell 30 of the units. Phase 1 construction started in May.
Westcliff
Habitat for Humanity’s $1 million from Washington, D.C., is the first chunk of funding for a 60-unit development, called Westcliff, in southwest Redmond, just off of Highway 97.
Scott Nordquist, vice president of resource development for Habitat for Humanity, said the project is expected to cost roughly $25 million and be built over the next three to five years.
Habitat for Humanity uses broad community support to build its homes that are offered to residents below-market rate.
Nordquist said, as an example, it may cost Habitat $450,000 to build a home that they may sell for $200,000 that it then needs to make up the $250,000 gap on each home. It takes funding from the federal, state — like LIFT — and city level plus businesses, individual donors and community support to cover.
“It’s an investment in the community, really,” Nordquist said. “Because we need people to be able to afford to live here.”
Original Article at: https://bendbulletin.com/2026/02/18/redmond-affordable-housing-35th-street-projects-get-3-million-in-federal-funding/