If you’re looking to move within Bend’s city limits and your home-buying budget isn’t an issue, the North Rim on Awbrey Butte is definitely one neighborhood worth consideration -– there are few other subdivisions like it. First off, the setting is spectacular. The elevated location atop Awbrey Butte provides stunning, sweeping views of the Cascade Mountains. Meanwhile, the Deschutes River meanders along a portion of the northwest boundary, offering its own equally impressive views.
Residents of the gated subdivision have direct access to a 10-mile stretch of the Deschutes River Trail, and also have access to a network of paver-topped walking trails that wind throughout the neighborhood. 
Although the subdivision spans more than 200 acres, there are just 121 home sites, all of which are an acre or larger, which gives the neighborhood a more rural feel (a nice feature, since you’re in the heart of Bend). And because the homes here are designed to blend in with their natural environment, that sense of open space is extended even further.
In both planning and execution, Brooks Resources, the developer of North Rim, went above and beyond in taking this very special setting into consideration. When the neighborhood was first conceived in 2004, an Architectural Design Program was created to ensure their vision was executed as the neighborhood grew. As stated in the introduction to the North Rim Design Guidelines: “The blending of the built environment with the natural environment is the core goal of this community.”
Another unique aspect of North Rim: Brooks Resources earmarked a financial contribution to the Oregon Community Foundation from each developer real estate sale within the subdivision. This led to the establishment of The North Rim Deschutes River Fund, which is dedicated to improving the stream flow and water quality in the Deschutes River Basin. So far, the fund has received more than $800,000 to improve the river.
And make no mistake: If you plan on building within North Rim, you will be required to share the developer’s vision. The extensive North Rim Design Guidelines book (a rather daunting 51 pages long) includes a detailed list of Architectural Rules & Design Guidelines, along with equally detailed Landscape Guidelines that provide specifics of how both the home and the property must exist in harmony with the natural surroundings.
Here’s a sampling: “Residences should be nestled into the land, remaining low, so as to be part of the site rather than being perched on it…” “Care must be taken to protect all plants in the Native and Ornamental Areas. Therefore, all improvements should be designed to include existing plants and trees if at all possible.” “Exterior materials must consist of materials that are compatible with the North Rim landscape. Natural stone, brick, stucco, or wood must be the predominant surfaces, with an emphasis on natural stone.”
Landscaping here is limited to native species, and building color schemes are designed to reflect the colors in nature that are found in this area.
(Homeowners are even provided with an illustrated guide of some of the native plants that they can choose to enhance their land.)
Within North Rim are several common areas, including 18 acres of native open space, a nearly two-acre private community park with state-of-the-art tennis court, and a community gathering place, known as The Lodge (a 3,600-square-foot facility designed by noted architect Thomas Hacker to reflect its natural surroundings). The neighborhood is also surrounded by 27 acres of naturally preserved open space, which is maintained by the Park District.
When it comes to real estate sales activity, the past year has been an active one for North Rim. As of Dec. 16, 28 lots had sold (at a cost of between $135,000 and $450,000), and six more lot sales were pending (for properties listed between $155,000 $205,000). At that time, there were four completed homes and two lots on the market. Three of the four homes are listed around $1 million; the fourth is $5.5 million. The available lots are $248,500 and $389,900. A handful of new homes are currently under construction.
Details, Details
Want to know more about North Rim? Here are a few more notable features:
- All architects, designers and builders must be approved by the North Rim Architectural and Landscape Review Committee.
- The total area of a residence cannot be less than 3,000 square feet or greater than 11,000 square feet (that includes garage, storage and all other spaces). Any detached structure’s floor area cannot be greater than 1200 square feet. No building shall exceed 30 feet in height.
- The style of residence can vary, but the vision is to have residences enhance the natural setting complementing the land.
- When building a home, residents are encouraged to incorporate passive solar elements wherever possible and to adhere to the residential stands of Earth Advantage and LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).
- All exterior HVAC equipment must be screened. Screening should be designed and installed to prohibit viewing of the HVAC equipment from neighboring home sites, common areas and roadways. Screening materials and details must be consistent with the architecture of the residence.
- No fencing is allowed within North Rim; homeowners with pets are allowed in install invisible fencing.
- North Rim, which is served by city services, was Bend’s first community to install a fiber connection throughout.
North Rim has a Homeowners’ Association (HOA), which was established under the CC&R’s. All of the native landscaping, the Lodge, the park, tennis court, paver sidewalks and other common maintenance areas are maintained by the HOA. HOA dues are approximately $595 per quarter.- Gates are installed at the main entrance on Wild Rye Circle and on Perspective Drive. The gate at the main entrance is open between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and closed nightly. The gate on Perspective Drive is open weekdays, and is closed nightly and on weekends. The main entrance at Wild Rye is monitored by a digital camera system, and there are also nightly security patrols.
North Rim Homes for Sale
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North Rim Lots for Sale
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If you’d like more information about North Rim, call or text me at 541-480-0987.
About the Author
Lisa Broadwater, GRI, CDPE, is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Bend and Redmond.