More Interesting New Construction in Sisters

This summer I wrote about the building boom in Sisters. Now, developer Peter Hall has broken ground on Sisters’ newest subdivision, ClearPine. The 20-acre, 100-home project in northeast Sisters is being touted as a sort of scaled-down version of Bend’s uber-popular NorthWest Crossing neighborhood.

The idea there was to blend numerous home styles and sizes with a range of designs from a stable of hand-picked “select builders.” The goal: shaping a more diverse, more organically designed neighborhood with homes that incorporate quality craftsmanship -– the antithesis of the “cookie-cutter” subdivision.

The plan for ClearPine calls for a mix of single-family homes, smaller “cottages” (perhaps geared toward retirees) and townhomes. As of now, there are four approved home styles — Craftsman, Prairie, Mid-century Modern and American Foursquare -– plus three preferred builders and four preferred designers. Although folks who purchase lots aren’t required to use any of the recommended vendors, all site development plans must adhere to ClearPine’s fairly extensive Design Guidelines and CCR’s and must receive written approval from the ClearPine Design Review Board and the City of Sisters Planning Department.

Another key draw of NorthWest Crossing is the broad cross-section of amenities located within the community: schools, churches and businesses, along with numerous parks. That aspect can’t be recreated at ClearPine, although there is promise of a centrally located park (see the rendering of the ClearPine plat map, below). The key amenity: the neighborhood’s close proximity to miles of National Forest (to the west, along Pine Street).

Home prices in ClearPine are expected to start around $350,000, with cottages and town houses priced in the high $200,000’s. Phase One (of Five) includes 14 single-family homes (the cottages and townhomes are planned for a later stage). The 11 lots currently on the market are between 5,070 and 5,850 square feet; they’re priced at $85,000 and $90,000.

ClearPine was once home to the Lundgren Mill (the name “ClearPine” pays homage to the knot-free “clear” pine lumber that was milled on this site until the 1960s) and was also previously owned by the Sisters School District. Most recently, it had been zoned “Light Industrial” and was part of the adjacent business park. Since Sisters has experienced a housing shortage for several years now (with no end in sight), Hall was able to get the property rezoned for residential use.

Legacy Home Builders live-work space

Meanwhile, Across Town…
Speaking of industrial style, Sisters also has a new entry in the live/work model. Actually, there are three new entries (one of which just came on the market). What’s more, they’re unlike anything else you’ll find in Sisters.

Folks have been watching the construction of this trio of homes, located off Highway 20 behind the Hop ‘N Brew, since early this summer. Perched almost precariously close together, their wood frames seemed to rise out of nowhere. Now that one of the structures is complete (and the other two are close behind), the results are equally intriguing.

A melding of lodge meets steampunk, they blend fine craftsmanship with an industrial edge in a combination commercial/residential space (commercial downstairs; residential upstairs). Built by Legacy Builders of Oregon, their unique configuration combined with clever, unexpected details – funky metal siding paired with classic board-and-batten, a skilift-chair-turned-porch swing –- seem designed to attract the edgy, outd00rs-oriented young entrepreneur. The budget, however, is hardly geared toward the average millennial: $549,000 for a 3,417-square-foot space (1,925 of which is residential and about 1,500 of which is commercial) on a 4,792-square-foot lot with little to no breathing room. Perhaps the property’s central location, within walking distance of many of Sisters’ restaurants, galleries, shops and parks, will help offset the lack of green space.

A quirky, cohesive design scheme (see below) that carries from one building to the next, as if the three buildings were designed as book-end puzzle pieces that fit together as one, may also work in its favor.

Time will tell.