The Modest Housing Construction Incentive (MHCI) provides a direct payment to builders of new homes in Westside Urban Renewal District that meet certain maximum sizes. The incentive payment is provided at construction milestones. The MHCI is intended to level the development fee disadvantage that modest housing types have as compared to large single-family detached housing. The table below summarizes the key aspects of the MHCI. Full program details and the application materials are available by clicking HERE.

Incentive payments are provided on a 1st come, 1st served, basis with an initial $1 Million allocated to the program through financing provided by the City of Hood River and Oregon Investment Board. Please contact Urban Renewal Agency Staff if you are interested in the MHCI by emailing: w.norris@cityofhoodriver.gov

Note: Developments meeting the MHCI’s size requirement may also be eligible to take advantage of the City’s Middle Housing Development Standards. These standards provide additional regulatory incentives like increased densities, reduced parking requirements, and greater lot coverages. Examples of lot configurations that adhere to the Middle Housing Standards are available at: cityofhoodriver.gov/urban-renewal/middle-housing-standards-incentives/.

The Westside District is working to design and engineer a roundabout at the intersection of Mt. Adams and Cascade Avenue (US-30). This intersection serves approximately 240 acres of undeveloped and underdeveloped land on Hood River’s west side. The roundabout will add vehicle capacity to support housing, increase safety for all user types, and improve disaster preparedness.

Project History

• 2017 – A roundabout at Mt. Adams and Cascade Avenue (US-30) was first identified locally as the preferred intersection alternative in the Westside Area Concept Plan.
• 2021 – Intersection improvements underwent additional design refinement during a DLCD/ODOT Grant funded “Cascade Avenue Refinement Plan”.
• 2021 – The City incorporated a roundabout at the Mt. Adams Avenue and Cascade Avenue (US-30) intersection into its Transportation System Plan.
• 2023 – The Westside Urban Renewal District created in part to to fund westside infrastructure. 
• 2025 – Resolution 2025-28 creates a Proportionate Share District to collect developer fees that will additionally fund the project.
• 2026 – The State Traffic Engineer provides conceptual approval of a roundabout at Mt. Adams and Cascade Avenue following an Urban Renewal Funded Intersection Control Evaluation.
• 2026 – Columbia Gorge Historic Highway Advisory Committee finds roundabout is consistent with values and standards of the Columbia River Historic Highway
• Next Steps – Progress to 30% Engineered Designs. The Agency intends to issue a solicitation for designs firm shortly.

Current Status

The concept designs below show the current approach to the Mt. Adams Roundabout. The intent is start with a single-lane roundabout, but with a footprint that will allow for additional lanes to be added as traffic volumes demand. This maximizes safety while allowing for the eventual full build-out of Hood River’s Westside. Construction is tentatively targeted for 2030 but that is highly subject to change at this early stage of design.

Benefits of a Roundabout

• Improved Safety – Roundabouts are associated with a 78%-82% reduction in fatal and injury crashes as compared to signalized intersections. This is primarily due to the reduction in speed and reduced directional conflicts. These safety improvements extend to pedestrians and bikes too.
• Added Capacity – Increasing vehicle capacity at the Mt. Adams and Cascade Avenue intersection is key to developing roughly 240-acres of undeveloped and underdeveloped property on Hood River’s west side. The roundabout will initially be built in a single lane configuration but can be expanded to support the full buildout of the west side (approx. 1,500 homes).
• Wildfire Resilience – A roundabout provides evacuation preparedness advantages over other intersection alternatives. Power companies de-energize powerlines during high-risk wildfire periods which is when evacuation orders are most likely. A roundabout will operate normally without power, whereas a signalized intersection will default to a three-way stop without power.
• Improved Freight Mobility – Semitrucks hauling agricultural products from the valley often queue at this stop sign controlled intersection waiting for the opportunity to slip into free-flowing east/west traffic on Cascade Avenue (US-30). A roundabout will provide improved access for northbound trucks to enter the intersection. The dimensions of the roundabout accommodate large semitrucks.
• Gateway Opportunity – A roundabout provides an placemaking opportunity at the western gateway to the city. Cities like The Dalles and Sisters have used roundabouts at entrances of their communities to display public art that communicates their local aesthetic.

Community Engagement Plan – The public engagement plan mapped the Westside District’s stakeholders and identified effective methods of engagement.

Housing Constructability Analysis – This report evaluated the economics of building housing in the Westside District. The project identified comparable sub-areas of the Westside District in terms of marketability, zoning, and development costs. These sub-areas were analyzed, comparing infrastructure and development costs against the residual value of allowable housing products. The analysis identified where housing does or does not “pencil” in the Westside District and why. This information will help target public infrastructure investments, tailor construction incentives, and indicate if regulatory changes are needed to accelerate housing production.

Performance and Equity Metrics – It is critical that Westside Urban Renewal District investments do not negatively impact current residents or local businesses. The key performance metrics will monitor the district’s impacts on economic development, livability, and community diversity.