Comments on: Bending the rules… http://blog.onwardoregon.org/bending-the-rules/ Here are snippets from the three most-recent postings. Click an article title below to read more. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:19:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Gordon (aka Geezer Dude) http://blog.onwardoregon.org/bending-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-54817 Gordon (aka Geezer Dude) Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:48:54 +0000 http://blog.onwardoregon.org/bending-the-rules/#comment-54817 I was interested in the comments posted here. For years, I have thought of Bend as a friendly community with an old-fashioned down-home feeling of Americana. Planned housing communities can not match the real flavor and character of the original town and the homes built around it in a natural growth pattern. I was interested in the comments posted here.

For years, I have thought of Bend as a friendly community with an old-fashioned down-home feeling of Americana.

Planned housing communities can not match the real flavor and character of the original town and the homes built around it in a natural growth pattern.

]]> By: Peter Webster http://blog.onwardoregon.org/bending-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-42810 Peter Webster Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:30:57 +0000 http://blog.onwardoregon.org/bending-the-rules/#comment-42810 Just came across this; no excuses for posting so late. One of the main reasons people are flocking here is to escape the perceived threats of big-city life. If you watch TV from Portland or L.A. or any other "major outlet," you get hammered with crime news; watch TV shows, and if they aren't innane comedy, they're about crime. People see Bend as safe. The "gated communities," which are just little stockades, appear to offer safety from whatever might be coming. and you're right: "secluded" means separation from people that can't be included in CC&Rs. Good post: thank you for making it. Just came across this; no excuses for posting so late. One of the main reasons people are flocking here is to escape the perceived threats of big-city life. If you watch TV from Portland or L.A. or any other “major outlet,” you get hammered with crime news; watch TV shows, and if they aren’t innane comedy, they’re about crime. People see Bend as safe. The “gated communities,” which are just little stockades, appear to offer safety from whatever might be coming. and you’re right: “secluded” means separation from people that can’t be included in CC&Rs.

Good post: thank you for making it.

]]> By: Heather http://blog.onwardoregon.org/bending-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-30170 Heather Tue, 19 Dec 2006 21:19:26 +0000 http://blog.onwardoregon.org/bending-the-rules/#comment-30170 I live on the East Side of Bend and of course, could not agree more. Central Oregon has turned into a vast network of isolated "housing pods" brought "together" by a downtown which exists only to supply overpriced Western wear and antler-slathered home decor. Perhaps the most depressing is the proliferation of gated communities in an area touted for its welcoming and casual attitude. These developments are portrayed almost as an upper-middle class cultural imperative; as one development describes itself, an "earned lifestyle." In an area with almost no safety issues and where most houses are within a short drive to the downtown area, the need for these creations eludes me. Local entrepreneurs (most of whom no doubt live in houses with historic character and charm, not on sagebrush wastelands dubbed 'planned communities') use a number of words which I find confusing and misleading. "Convenience" is one such word; most of the gated communities are located significantly farther away from town than other communities. Not sure about you, but I would find that less convenient. Does "convenience" mean lack of need to walk? The convenience of avoiding other people without trying? "Luxury" may accurately describe some of the developments, although many seem neither elegant nor well-built, merely large. "Privileged" is another catch-phrase. I suppose this is a state of being which one could aspire, if the corollary to privilege is financial instability. I do not, however, understand how one can attain 'privilege' by moving into a destination resort community. If you can afford to do so, you're already privileged, right? "Secluded" is understandable as a goal, since some people prefer to live in isolation. However, most of the large houses built in "secluded" communities are actually uncomfortably close to one another. Does "secluded" mean seclusion for the person/family, or separation from some outside "Other" that cannot legally be spelled out in CC&R's. I can't pretend to have an alternative in mind, nor am I opposed to housing developments in general. I just think that Central Oregon developers are capitalizing on snobbery and fear, and homebuyers are letting it happen. I live on the East Side of Bend and of course, could not agree more. Central Oregon has turned into a vast network of isolated “housing pods” brought “together” by a downtown which exists only to supply overpriced Western wear and antler-slathered home decor.

Perhaps the most depressing is the proliferation of gated communities in an area touted for its welcoming and casual attitude. These developments are portrayed almost as an upper-middle class cultural imperative; as one development describes itself, an “earned lifestyle.” In an area with almost no safety issues and where most houses are within a short drive to the downtown area, the need for these creations eludes me.

Local entrepreneurs (most of whom no doubt live in houses with historic character and charm, not on sagebrush wastelands dubbed ‘planned communities’) use a number of words which I find confusing and misleading. “Convenience” is one such word; most of the gated communities are located significantly farther away from town than other communities. Not sure about you, but I would find that less convenient. Does “convenience” mean lack of need to walk? The convenience of avoiding other people without trying?

“Luxury” may accurately describe some of the developments, although many seem neither elegant nor well-built, merely large.

“Privileged” is another catch-phrase. I suppose this is a state of being which one could aspire, if the corollary to privilege is financial instability. I do not, however, understand how one can attain ‘privilege’ by moving into a destination resort community. If you can afford to do so, you’re already privileged, right?

“Secluded” is understandable as a goal, since some people prefer to live in isolation. However, most of the large houses built in “secluded” communities are actually uncomfortably close to one another. Does “secluded” mean seclusion for the person/family, or separation from some outside “Other” that cannot legally be spelled out in CC&R’s.

I can’t pretend to have an alternative in mind, nor am I opposed to housing developments in general. I just think that Central Oregon developers are capitalizing on snobbery and fear, and homebuyers are letting it happen.

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