Discovery Park Lodge
Bend, Oregon
Discovery Park LodgeBend, Oregon |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The ApartmentsAre
the apartments furnished? No, the apartments are not furnished.
How
big are the apartments and how many bedrooms do they have? The building has 42
one-bedroom units and 11 two-bedroom units.
The floor plans are similar in size to typical market
rate one- and two-bedroom apartments. There
are 5 one-bedroom floor plans – Unit Types A -E measuring 712 to 809 square
feet. There
are 5 two-bedroom floor plans – Unit Types F-K – measuring 967 to 1069 square
feet. Please click here to view the
individual floor plans. Do
the apartments have decks or balconies? How
big are they? All of the apartments have
balconies. The first floor
balconies measure approximately 6 feet by 10 feet (totaling about 60 square
feet). The second and third floor
balconies measure approximately 4 feet by 10 feet (totaling about 40 square
feet). Do
the apartments have extra storage? All of the apartments have
extra storage located in the parking garage or in storage rooms located on the
third floor. Are
the utilities gas or electric? Electric. Are
utilities included in rent? Discovery Park Lodge will
pay for all hot & cold water, garbage and sewer charges. Residents
will be responsible for paying the their electrical bill, which includes all
appliances, lights, and heating & cooling.
Residents will also be responsible for cable, phone and internet charges.
What
appliances are included? All apartments come equipped
with the standard kitchen appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers and
garbage disposals. Microwaves are
not provided. Each apartment has
hook-ups for a washer and dryer (stackable only), but the washer/dryer units
themselves are not provided. However,
the building will have one laundry room located on the third floor with standard size, coin-operated
(4) washers and (4) dryers available to all residents. Are
there washers and dryers in the apartments? Each apartment has hook-ups
for a washer and dryer (stackable only), but the washer/dryer units themselves
are not provided. However, the
building will have one laundry room located on the 3rd floor with standard size, coin-operated washers
and dryers available to all residents. Are
the apartments air conditioned? Each apartment comes
equipped with a heating/cooling unit that serves to both heat and cool the unit
as needed. Will
cable television be available? Cable access will be
available in each apartment. Residents
will have to pay for cable access, but will be charged at a reduced rate. Will
the apartments have internet access? Internet access will be
available in each apartment. Residents
will have to pay for internet access, but will be charged at a reduced rate.
In addition, the building will have two computer centers with free
internet access available to all building residents. Does
the building have wheelchair accessible units? Yes, Discovery Park Lodge has three apartments that are fully accessible to persons in wheelchairs (two 1-bedroom units and one 2-bedroom unit). In addition, there are two apartments on the second floor which are accessible to persons with hearing and/or sight impairments. The Building/Property
Are
pets allowed? Yes, pets are allowed,
provided they weigh no more than 35 pounds.
Residents are restricted to no more than one dog, and no more than two
pets total, per apartment. A $400
pet deposit is required for any pet-owning household. Residents have the option of paying half of the pet deposit
($200) upon move-in, and the remaining $200 in $25 monthly installments. Is
smoking allowed in the building? Are
there smoking areas or smoking units? Discovery Park Lodge will
be a non-smoking facility. Smoking
is prohibited in all common areas and apartments, including balconies.
Smoking will also be prohibited on the Discovery Park Lodge grounds. Does
the building have an elevator? Yes, there is one
centrally-located elevator. What
sort of common/recreation areas does the building have? The main common room
will be a large, beautiful room on the 2nd floor with sizeable
windows and an adjacent warming kitchen. This room will be used for weekly
group meals, social events and other events, such as lectures, clinics and
meetings. Other common areas include a lobby/sitting room – which will
include a TV, games and a piano – and the Osprey’s Nest library and reading
room on the third floor with spectacular view of Discovery Park. The
building will also have a fitness room, two computer areas, and two large,
trellis-covered decks. Is
Discovery Park Lodge an assisted living or an independent living facility? Discovery Park Lodge is an
independent living facility. However,
a variety of services will be available to the residents (see below). What
sort of resident services will be available? Discovery Park Lodge has established relationships with the Central Oregon Council on Aging and Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Central Oregon, two of the region’s primary providers of services to seniors. These organizations strive to meet the broad range of senior needs, from support services and case management to light housekeeping and transportation. In conjunction with these organizations, Discovery Park Lodge staff will host weekly group meals, social events, lectures and other special events. In addition, we are working on establishing relationships with other businesses and agencies to bring a variety of activities and services to our residents, including educational opportunities, fitness activities, clinics and workshops.
Will
Discovery Park Lodge have a van or a shuttle for residents? We
are looking into providing some sort of transportation service, such as a van or
shuttle, for residents of Discovery Park Lodge. In addition, the City of
Bend’s fixed route public transit system stops less than a block from Discovery Park Lodge, and
residents will continue to have access to the City’s handicap accessible Dial-A-Ride system.
Transportation assistance will also be available through our resident service
providers, the Central Oregon Council on Aging and Interfaith Volunteer
Caregivers. Is
there parking available for the residents?
Is it weather-protected? Is
there a charge? Are the parking spaces assigned? Parking is available for
residents at no charge. The
majority of the parking spaces are located in the parking garage, with the
remainder outside.
Parking will be assigned. Does
the building have laundry facilities? Discovery
Park Lodge will have a laundry room on the 3rd floor with standard
size, coin-operated (4) washers and (4) dryers. The laundry room will be available
for use by all Discovery Park Lodge residents. Does
the building have a computer lab? Yes, Discovery Park Lodge
will have two common computer areas with two computers in each area.
All common area computers will have free internet access available to all
Discovery Park Lodge residents. Is
there controlled access to the building? The building will be controlled access 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and 365 days per year. How
will I get my garbage and recycling from my apartment down to the dumpsters? We hope to establish a
relationship with a volunteer organization in Bend that would provide volunteers
to cart garbage and recycling from the apartments to the dumpsters on a weekly
basis. Application and Move-In Process
When
will the building be completed? When
can I move in? Construction is scheduled to
be completed in August 2009. Move-in
can occur anytime after the City issues a Certificate of Occupancy, anticipated
to occur in September 2009. How
do I get on the waiting list? Contact Julie Cavanaugh by telephone at 541-390-9679 or by email at: juliecavanaugh@pacificcrestgroup.org
What
will the application process entail? When
can I apply? In June 2009, our property
management company, Cascade Management will contact everyone on the Discovery
Park Lodge waiting list and send out application packets to all those who are
still interested in applying for residence.
The application and screening process will involve filling out
application materials, providing income and other documentation, and meeting
with Cascade Management staff (sometimes several times) either in-person or over
the phone to review and discuss the application and income screening process.
The length of the application and screening process can vary widely from
household to household, but typically takes about two weeks. In the meantime, starting in
spring 2008, everyone on the waiting list will receive quarterly updates on the
status of the project. How
are residents selected? What determines who is selected and who isn’t? The two primary requirements
to live at Discovery Park Lodge are related to age and income.
At least one member of each household must be 55 years old or older at
the time of move-in. Please click here to
review income requirements. Apartments
are available on a first-come, first-served basis to those who meet the income
and age requirements. Is
there any way I can increase my chances of getting an apartment? Eligibility for residence at Discovery Park Lodge is based primarily on income and age.
Apartments are available on a first-come, first-served basis to those who
meet the income and age requirements. The
only way to move up on the waiting list is for households higher on the list to
be removed from the list (by moving
into the building, by failing to qualify, or by requesting to be removed from
the list). How
are apartments assigned? Can I choose which apartment I want? Residents that go through
the application process and qualify for residence at Discovery Park Lodge will
have their choice of apartments based on what’s available at the time.
Because the building will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis,
those higher on the waiting list will have greater choice in their selection of
apartments. What
will my move-in costs be? Upon move-in, residents will
be required to pay a security deposit, first month’s rent (prorated for the
portion of the month in which the resident is living at Discovery Park Lodge),
and if applicable, a pet deposit. Please
click here for details on move-in costs. Is
there a model we can view? We may have a model
available for viewing prior to the building opening in September 2009.
Cascade Management staff will be able to answer this question during the
application process. Qualifications
Can
I qualify if I have a savings account or other assets? Yes.
In determining eligibility, we consider annual income and assets.
Please click here for more
information on how assets are assessed in terms of eligibility. I
am over 55 but my wife it not. Can
we still live at Mountain Laurel Lodge? Yes.
Only one person in each household must be 55 years old or older at the
time of move-in. However, overall,
at least 80% of the residents of Discovery Park Lodge must be 55 or older. I’m
under 55 and disabled. Do I qualify to live at Discovery Park Lodge based on my
disabled status? No. Discovery Park Lodge is only available to households in
which at least one member of the household is 55 years old or older at the time
of move-in. However, overall, at
least 80% of the residents at Discovery Park Lodge must be 55 or older. I
am a single person. Can I qualify
to rent a two-bedroom apartment? Yes.
Through the application process, we will determine your income level and
rental rates. You have the option
of selecting either a one-bedroom or a two-bedroom apartment based on
availability and your ability to pay the monthly rent for your preferred unit.
Do
you have to be a resident of Deschutes County to qualify to live at Discovery
Park Lodge? No, you do not have to be a
resident of Deschutes County to qualify to live at Discovery Park Lodge.
Do
you have to be a citizen of the United States to qualify to live at Discovery
Park Lodge? No, you do not have to be a
United States citizen or a resident of the United States to qualify to live at
Discovery Park Lodge. However, at
the time you apply, you must be able to show that you have authorization to be
in the United States for at least the duration of your lease. Income Limits and Rental Rates
Do
you take Section 8 vouchers? Yes, Section 8 vouchers may
be used at Discovery Park Lodge, pending authorization by the Central Oregon
Regional Housing Authority. However,
Discovery Park Lodge staff will not administer the voucher program; you will
continue to work with your Section 8 representative at the Housing Authority
regarding your participation in the program. How
long with the apartments be affordable? Will
they become market rate before I am ready to move out? Discovery Park Lodge has
committed to remain affordable (i.e., to charge below-market rental rates) for a
period of 60 years from the time the building opens.
Will
the rental rates increase over time? Our rental rates are
determined based on the Median Family Income figures that the US Department of
Housing and Urban Development releases every year, and on the maximum rental
rates allowed by the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services.
If Median Family Income and the maximum allowable rental rates increase,
Discovery Park Lodge’s rental rates will likely increase as well.
However, we have committed to keeping our rental rates below the maximums
allowed by the state, and well below market rates, for the next 60 years.
Are
rental rates based on the income of the household, or are rents set based on the
apartment type?
Do I have to re-qualify every year?
Will I be required to move out if my income increases and goes over the
income limits? The Internal Revenue Service requires us to re-certify each resident of
Discovery Park Lodge on an annual basis, so you will need to provide income
documentation every year to our property management company.
However, you WILL NOT be required to move out if your income goes over
the income limits after your first year. How do you determine income? Do you look at tax forms from the previous year?
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Last modified: June 04, 2008 |
