Sunriver, OR

It's never too late to come and play in Sunriver, Oregon. School has begun and the air is crisp - Fall is here! Perhaps a weekend getaway is exactly what is needed. Come and rent bikes from Four Seasons Rentals and travel the endless miles of scenic bike paths. Take a leisurely float and enjoy the wildlife on the Big Deschutes River. Golf any of the three fabulous top rated golf courses - home of the 2008 Jeld-wen Traditions. Pamper yourself with a relaxing massage at the Sage Springs Spa. Enjoy an evening under the stars at the Nature Observatory. Dine at the Grille at Crosswater boasting the finest in North West cuisine. Kick up your heels at the Owl's Nest -featuring live music on most weekends! The list is endless of all that Sunriver Resort has to offer - the best resort in Central Oregon. Take advantage- come and play today!

One of the greatest things about visiting Sunriver in the fall, once school has started... the bike paths are not crowded, the golf courses have tee times and life is much slower. All you empty nesters come take advatange of this great time.

Central Oregon Home Buyers you will be amazed at how much easier it is to get into those vacation rentals most of them are vacant for at least one day when you are here.

The Sunriver village mall is in great need of a total make over. Finally it is getting done. The county has passed the zoning change and now there are just a few steps away from moving forward. I imagine it will be probably close to two more years before Sunriver and Silver Star start breaking ground but at least we are moving forward. They are still not at the approved stage for the conceptional drawings but it still looks like we are going to moving forward with upscale retail obn the bottom, office 2nd storie, and loft living up top.

How can I make sure a home is in compliance with all SROA CC&R's before buying a property?

Make sure your agent requests that any offer is contingent on an SROA inspection of the property. Additional info is available at the SROA website

A special SROA Inspection Addendum should be included with any offer to buy Sunriver property.

How is this market affecting Sunriver?

Like the rest of Central Oregon, Sunriver is being affected by the market slowdown. However when compared to the Bend, Redmond and the La Pine markets, Sunriver home prices are still going strong.

Despite the fact that sales volume and the number of sales transactions were down considerably in the first quarter of 2008, Sunriver still maintained year over year gains in median sales prices. According to 2007 MLS data Sunriver also had the highest Average Sales Price and the lowest Average Days on Market in Central Oregon for 2007.

Sunriver is predominantly a second home market so it is not affected in the same way as other markets.

As promised I am following up on last weeks County Commissioner Meeting hearing public testimony in regards to the Sunriver Village Mall. Arriving at the Great Hall in Sunriver, OR at 6:00 on a Wednesday April 30^th the room was already buzzing. The anticipation of what was going to be in store for the evening was heavy in the air. All the chairs were filled and some - myself included found a perch on the stairs. The Deschutes County Commissioners; Mike Daly, Dennis Luke and Tammy Baney Melton and staff sitting in the front called the meeting to order. Looking around I notice Sunriver security is here in force - an ominous presence - what are they expecting to happen? Only time will tell how this evening is going to play out.

Well, the evening progressed. One after another members of the Sunriver community come before the Commissioners to state their pleas - in support of SilverStar's proposed revitalization of the current rundown and depleted Sunriver Village Mall. Around 50 of the approximate 300 people gave testimony for two and one half hours this evening. How many in opposition - you ask? From my last post - you all may be wondering - where is the controversy? Me too! This had to be the most civilized "controversy" in history! This community - at least those who chose to attended this hearing - have banded together to show their full support for SilverStar and the new mixed-use retail and residential village. Please see my original blog at Give-it-Your-Best-Shot SilverStar posted 4/30/08.

The biggest "controversy" of the night was the timeline for when the text agreement decission would be made final. After much discussion it was finally agreed that final text agreement regarding SilverStar's proposal will be discussed at the regular June 4^th 10:00 AM Commissioners Meeting. The date certain to close the record on this hearing will remain open until the middle of summer.

Well, that is it for now - I will keep you posted as the plans unfold. Thanks you for catching the buzzzzz!

Earlier this month I attended the SilverStar Destinations LLC, meeting at Mavericks, regarding the controversial subject of the proposed revitalization of the Sunriver Village Mall. I was very impressed with Dave Leland, of Leland Consulting, as he conveyed the facts and offered his thoughts and valued expertise of how the Village should proceed towards the future and the break continued downward spiral that will continue if something major is not done now to save the Village.

I learned some very interesting facts and it allowed me to do some sole-searching of my own. Having been a resort guest of Sunriver since the late 70's and a full time resident in the mid 1990's I have many memories of Sunriver Resort. And many of these memories include the early phases of Sunriver when the Ranch Cabins at Circle 4 were on the outer edges of the development. I remember visits to the original Country Store for a Country Time Lemonade, shopping for my Mom's birthday present at the Variety Store and don't forget a trip by Goodies to get some Licorice Pastels and Green Apple Jelly Bellies before riding my bike "home". I understand that change is not always easy - but sometimes it is mandatory.

Here are the facts - The current mall first broke ground in 1974 and is in desperate need of renovation. The paint is peeling, concrete cracking and roofs are leaking. There have been reported mold problems and structural issues. The mall is not fully occupied by businesses, less than 80 percent, and has not been near capacity for some time. Wouldn't a new plan be in the best interest of everyone?

Have you walked with your friends who have come to visit you in Sunriver and had to explain that the Village is just not what it used to be? Where is the pulse - the heart of the Village? It appears that everyone is suffering. My family and I attend the annual events at the Village which are fine but it dares to asks the question - could and should there be more? Is the latest proposal by SilverStar Destinations LLC, just what the "doctor" ordered? Will this revised and scaled down "mixed-use" resort model be the best use of the planned "Main Street" spaces - containing commercial, residential and community spaces? Will this design be the revitalization that the Village at Sunriver Resort desparately needs?

Although, I may have been somewhat skeptical because I did not have all the facts, there is no longer any doubt. "The Time Is Right, The Time Is Now" see Village at Sunriver - while the competition continues to build and via for the same attention, and lets face it, the same dollars that Sunriver does, I do believe that the time is right and we do need to act now. In my opinion, this is the "shot" that the Village needs to survive - to be the vital organ that it needs to be for Sunriver Resort and its residents and guests. For information on the proposed SilverStar village plan please visit Citizens for Sunriver and for information for those that are opposed to the proposed revitalization please visit Save Sunriver Most are in agreement that this current measure will be passed by the voters, where it "failed" last time because it didn't reach the required 60 percent approval- even though 56 percent approved the sale of the property to SilverStar. The people of Sunriver are educating themselves. All seats were filled; there was standing room only in the back and out into and down the hallway.

Tomorrows meeting April 30th at 6:00 PM at the Great Hall should prove to be no different.

So, "give it your best shot" SilverStar!

Watch for my follow up post! I'll be keeping you in the BUZZZZZZZZ!