Expanding the Legacy of Bend’s Timber Industry

The Old Mill District is an incredibly successful mixed-use development in Bend, anchored by the Shops at the Old Mill which features a diverse selection of retail, dining, and entertainment.  Once home to one of the world’s largest ponderosa pine sawmills, this site on the banks of the scenic Deschutes River brings together a unique mix of regional history, a vibrant commercial development, and access to nature.

The ongoing success of the District has led to TVA’s current scope of work, which includes the development of three new buildings at the north end of the Shops, currently known as Buildings X, Y, and Z.  Building X, features flexible indoor/outdoor spaces, expansive patios, and a roof terrace, is envisioned for food and entertainment use and is located adjacent to the riverfront trail. This trail, first envisioned by Bill Smith the visionary Bend developer responsible for the entire Old Mill development, provides public access along this entire stretch of the Deschutes and allows the District to remain a connected, active blend of public and private uses. Building Y, a multi-tenant retail building, sits alongside the historic ‘Hot Pond,’ while Building Z, situated near the main entry to the Shops, is designed as a mixed-use building with ground-floor retail for a single tenant and short-stay apartments on the second floor.

Conceptual design for this project began in 2021, with TVA’s first design challenge being to provide convenient parking access without having the buildings overly auto-focused. Our solution pulls the buildings closer to the Hot Pond and places the parking and vehicular access behind them. This approach improves connectivity between the new development and the District’s landscape and open spaces, creating a series of pedestrian-focused plazas and circulation patterns. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2025.