A $200 million revitalization effort in the heart
of Bend signals the end of urban adolescence.
For a city as polished as Bend, the centrally located intersection of Northeast Second Street and Northeast Hawthorne Avenue stands out for its grit. Here, less than a mile from the boutique stores and $60 entrees of downtown, there are no blocks of twinkling structures boasting walls of expensive glazing. The streets that lead to this spot are weathered and rough with weeds exploiting the gaps. Stepping out of your car carries a whiff of urgency to be gone by nightfall. There are makeshift camps. People sleep on sidewalks.
No, this is not the Bend of magazines and sunny…
