Discovery West
A New Mixed-Use Residential Community on Bend’s West Side
by Darcy Hays
At the completion of the award-winning NorthWest Crossing neighborhood in Bend, Oregon, the same development team had a vision: a mixed-use community with a variety of housing types, gathering spaces to meet family and friends, proximity to shops and dining, and of course, easy access to walking and biking trails—all centered around the theme of discovery. With the expansion of Bend’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) in 2016, that vision was about to become a reality.
“Our family really enjoys living in Discovery West, a safe and friendly neighborhood with abundant nature, bike and walking trails and soon, a few local businesses.”
–Julie Natoli, Owner, Bluebird Skin Therapy
Taking the lessons they’d learned from the adjacent development of NorthWest Crossing, the team started development in 2019 on the aptly named Discovery West. Currently, phases 6 and 7 are being built of 18 planned phases in total. Approximately 145 homes have been completed and sold, with an anticipated 480 detached single-family homes, 60 townhomes, live-work townhomes, duplex mews, cottages, and 230 multi-family apartments upon the neighborhood’s completion.
Coming soon to Discovery Corner is the Sparrow Mercado—a convenient place to grab an iconic Sparrow Ocean Roll, coffee or staple items for picnics, dinner or entertaining.
Located in west Bend, Discovery West is ideally positioned to explore everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Residents can easily access trails, and NorthWest Crossing is only a few minutes away for shopping and dining needs. “Our family really enjoys living in Discovery West, a safe and friendly neighborhood with abundant nature, bike and walking trails and soon, a few local businesses,” says Julie Natoli, Discovery West resident and owner of Bluebird Skin Therapy and Aesthetics.
Nearby schools include the new Skylark Children’s Academy, which offers preschool education for children ages 12 months through 5 years. Miller Elementary, Pacific Crest Middle School, and Summit High all conveniently border the neighborhood.
DISCOVERY CORNER
At the heart of the community is Discovery Corner, a plaza at the neighborhood’s urban core that serves as a gathering place for residents and visitors. The plaza is surrounded by live-work townhomes that host retail shops and businesses on the ground floor, and luxury vacation rentals on the second and third floors.
Five of the ten retail spaces in the live-work townhomes have been leased and are in different stages of opening. A Sparrow Bakery grab-and-go concept called the Sparrow Mercado will serve coffees, soups, breads, and pizza dough, in addition to their usual pastries, including their renowned Ocean Rolls. A cleverly named wine bar, Put a Cork In It, will feature wines from the Pacific Northwest.
Bluebird Skin Therapy and Aesthetics will provide aesthetician services in another suite. “When I had the opportunity to open my company here, it was an easy decision,” says Natoli. “How fortunate am I to be able to bring my extensive dermatology and cosmetic experience to serve my local community?” Additional spaces have been reserved by builder Greg Welch Construction and real estate partner Harcourts The Garner Group Real Estate.
A 3D sculptural depiction of the Discovery West logo serves as the centerpiece of Discovery Corner. Crafted by Oregon City welder and artist Jenny Ellsworth of Fairy Forge, the steel plate sculpture stands at six feet tall and weighs over six hundred pounds. The sculpture sits inside the firepit, with fire burning in the negative space of six decorative “fins.”
Surrounding the firepit are concrete benches adorned with mosaic murals created by Discovery West resident Rochelle Rose-Schueler of Wild Rose Artworks. As visual interpretations of sound waves and tectonic activity, the mosaics weave the theme of discovery throughout the plaza and allow for thoughtful reflection.
With the opening of Discovery Corner in the fall, the plaza is buzzing with energy. Residents are excited to christen the plaza as the new hub of Discovery West. “Imagine grabbing a coffee from Sparrow, enjoying the fire pit and art installation, visiting Bluebird for a signature photofacial, and finishing with a glass of wine at the local wine bar,” Natoli muses. “Sounds like the perfect afternoon.”
Housing Options
Discovery West is unique in that there are no set floorplans or finish packages to choose from for the neighborhood’s single-family homes. Homes are built by Discovery West’s Builders Guild, a group of 24 local builders that meet the high standards for the neighborhood. To ensure architectural diversity in the community, the developer holds a lottery wherein builders draw for lots on which to build speculative and custom homes.
Builders and their clients can select from 12 historic architectural styles, ranging from Craftsman and Mid-Century Modern, to Scandinavian. These styles can be customized while keeping certain essential elements consistent, giving the neighborhood a cohesive yet diverse feel.
Besides single-family homes, Discovery West offers a selection of urban, mixed-housing options. One such option is the Trove townhomes, which surround Discovery Corner and line Skyline Ranch Road. Taking inspiration from Scandinavian design, these tall homes utilize high ceilings, large windows, and contemporary finishes.
Builders and their clients can select from 12 historic architectural styles, ranging from Craftsman and Mid-Century Modern, to Scandinavian. These styles can be customized while keeping certain essential elements consistent, giving the neighborhood a cohesive yet diverse feel.
Terrane, another mixed-housing product, is made up of mews. Inspired by 18th-century carriage houses, mews are sustainably built duplexes connected at the garage. The homes face a beautifully landscaped pedestrian walkway. Some mews feature an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), each with its own entrance, kitchen, laundry, bath, and parking spot.
The Nine cottages are a cluster of nine one- or two-story homes perfect for those looking for simplicity. With floorplans ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet, these homes are open concept, focusing on an abundance of natural light, subtle colors, and flex space to create a cozy, minimalist space. Cottage owners also have exclusive access to a central common area featuring a spacious outdoor pavilion.
Discovery West homes range from Mid-Century Modern to Craftsman, to American Farmhouse and Prairie.
Diversity in architecture and locating garages in alleys off the rear of homes makes for a beautiful and welcoming streetscape.
Trove Townhomes (right bottom) offer carefree townhome living adjacent to Discovery Corner. These well-appointed townhomes feature expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces.
Although the Builders Guild provides much of the home building at Discovery West, the developer offers a rare opportunity for homeowners to purchase a custom homesite through the Strada Collection. Overlooking Discovery Park, these generously sized homesites range from 1/3 to 1/4 of an acre in size and some allow stunning views of Mt. Bachelor and the Cascade Mountains.
With the threat of wildfires always looming in the West, homes in Discovery West are built with fire risk reduction in mind. The neighborhood achieved Firewise certification in 2024 and ongoing fire mitigation measures are taken throughout Discovery West. In addition, the neighborhood is designed based on the “transect” concept of urbanism where density decreases farther from the urban core, increasing fire protection and limiting the effects of development on wildlife.
DISCOVERY THROUGH ART
Crafting a distinct neighborhood identity was paramount to the community’s success. True to its name, Discovery West encourages residents, through architecture, art, and other amenities, to explore and celebrate everyday discoveries.
A variety of public art is dotted throughout the community. This piece by Bend artist Chris Cole honors “Woman of Discovery” Annie Londonderry, the first woman to bicycle around the world in the late 1890s.
One of the most visible ways Discovery West celebrates this spirit of discovery is through the street names. Most of the streets are named after women who have made significant historical discoveries in the fields of medicine, technology, space, and more. Lamppost banners with illustrated pictures of the trailblazing women line the streets of Discovery West. “We wanted to bring awareness to women who have made incredible contributions to the world but may not be as well-known as their male counterparts,” says Valerie Yost, Director of Marketing for Brooks Resources, a managing member of the development team. Residents can learn more by exploring around Discovery Corner, where bronze medallions portraying the women and their accomplishments are embedded into the landscape.
In addition to the Women of Discovery medallions, residents can discover artworks all throughout the neighborhood. A mural along Discovery Trail depicts portraits of fourteen Women of Discovery, painstakingly created by stencil muralist Doug Robertson. “These intricate and fun paintings are a way to engage people as they stroll through the park, encouraging them to learn more about these incredible women,” Yost says.
“Discovery Park is owned and operated by the Bend Park and Recreation District, so we work with them to bring art and other wonderful experiences into the park.”
–Valerie Yost, Director of Marketing, Brooks Resources
Another installation by Bend artist Chris Cole of Chris Cole Designs celebrates Annie Londonderry, the first woman to bicycle around the world. Looking through a porthole carved into the inverted pyramid sculpture, viewers can see a black and white photo of Londonderry and her bike. “She rode in heavy skirts, and eventually men’s trousers, which was very taboo at the time,” Yost shares. “She sailed on steamer ships to each continent and completed her journey in less than 15 months.” Adorned with bicycle cogs, the sculpture is a tribute to her adventures.
Future installations in the neighborhood’s Discovery Park include an interactive labyrinth and two sculptures by Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt, both anticipated to arrive in 2025. “Discovery Park is owned and operated by the Bend Park and Recreation District, so we work with them to bring art and other wonderful experiences into the park,” Yost says.
Mechanical Waves – a series of mosaic murals by Rochelle Rose-Schueler
From charming townhomes and cozy cottages to custom-built single-family homes, Discovery West is teeming with possibilities. With the opening of Discovery Corner, a growing art collection, and access to an extensive trail network, this vibrant community is perfect for those wanting to indulge their innate sense of discovery.
