Westside Urban Renewal District Filed
Hood River’s fourth Urban Renewal District, the Westside District, was officially created after a vote by Hood River City Council and the Hood River County Board of Commissioners. Thirty days after the vote, Ordinance 2077 establishing the Westside District was filed with the County Tax Assessor. This will set the district’s “frozen base” at 2023 property value rates. Future tax growth will be reinvested in the Westside District in the form of new roads, parks, and affordable housing, using the economic development tool of “Tax Increment Financing.”
Tax Increment Financing is not a new tax and does not increase taxes for current property owners. Tax Increment Financing works by unlocking development potential within a defined area by paying for infrastructure projects via loans. Property tax growth from follow-on private investment then repays the original loans, leaving the district improved and with a larger tax base for public services. Hood River’s Waterfront and Downtown are local examples of the prior effective use of Tax Increment Financing for neighborhood revitalization.
To learn more about the Westside Urban Renewal District, including the district boundaries, goals and plan, go to cityofhoodriver.gov/urban-renewal/westside-urban-renewal-district.
First Hood River 101 Cohort Graduates at City Hall
Congratulations to the Hood River 101 graduates!
The first cohort of the civics academy course celebrated the completion of the program with a graduation ceremony at the November 13 City Council meeting. The six-week course featured sessions on each of the City’s core departments and was the first of its kind offered by the City.
After seeing the course fill up quickly, the City hopes to continue to offer Hood River 101 in the future, and experiment with different formats and options accessible to diverse community members.
“I’ve really enjoyed this chance to get to know our community and hear their thoughts,” said Community Engagement Coordinator Jackie Vanderpuye. “I look forward to providing new ways for residents to learn about and be engaged with the City.”
Rand Road Affordable Housing Public Meeting
On October 25, representatives from Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation, Community Development Partners (CDP), and Holst Architecture held an open house for the proposed 129-unit affordable housing development at 780 Rand Road. The development team responded to questions, and community members provided feedback about the proposed design and services.
After receiving over $15 million in Local Innovation Fast Track (LIFT) funding in 2023, CDP is awaiting news on receiving federal tax credits to complete funding for the project. If tax credits are not awarded in this cycle, construction will need to be delayed but CDP will reapply during the next opportunity.
To learn more about the history of the project, visit cityofhoodriver.gov/planning/780-rand-road-housing-development-strategy.
Fall Leaf Reminder
Fall has arrived and the leaves are falling. The City reminds the community that it is the property owner’s responsibility to keep sidewalks adjoining private property in safe condition. If there are leaves on the sidewalks, please remove them. Owners are liable for damages and injuries resulting from unsafe sidewalks adjacent to their property. For more details on owner responsibility, please see Hood River Municipal Code: HRMC 13.20.
When removing leaves, the leaves should not be raked or blown onto the sidewalk, gutter, or streets as they can plug storm drains and cause flooding (a violation of the Hood River Municipal Code). If there are catch basins near your property, please help keep them clear of leaves and debris to keep water draining and streets from flooding.
The City is no longer offering a free leaf drop-off program; however, residents may utilize their yard waste and compost roll-bin provided by Hood River Garbage for weekly pick up. Hood River Garbage also offers a yard waste drop-off at a discounted rate on Wednesdays, where residents may drop off leaves for $5 a load. Please make sure all garbage cans are placed in a safe place off the street to allow access for street sweepers. The City Public Works department appreciates the community’s help keeping Hood River clean and safe.
Free Downtown Parking for Holiday Shopping
This holiday season, the City encourages the community to support local businesses and shop locally. To help support Hood River businesses, the City is continuing the tradition of offering free parking downtown from Monday, December 11th through Saturday, December 23rd. Sundays, federal holidays, and parking in the evening from 6pm-8am is always free!
Although it is not necessary to pay for parking during these dates, all other parking rules will be enforced. This includes, but is not limited to, signed time limits, reserved/permit parking, loading zones, 10-minute curbside pick-up spaces, etc. Happy Holidays!
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