Renovations have started on the historical post office located off of Wall Street in downtown Bend and it will soon be a boutique hotel. The old post office, built in the 1930s with its beautiful granite and marble structure, has represented Bend’s history and glamor for almost 100 years. It was built in 1932 and used as the community’s post office until 1982 when they moved to a new location. The space was then bought by a private corporation and used as the Bend Chamber of Commerce until 2020 when it was sold to the Deschutes Opportunity Commercial Redevelopment.
In 2020, the building was bought by new owners for 4.3 million. The new owners claim that the renovation will modernize the old building but keep the historical foundation and facade intact, According to KTVZ. An examination of the City of Bend planning documents revealed that the soon-to-be hotel was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. The WPA program was notable for providing jobs to Americans as a means of economic recovery and is responsible for many historic landmarks such as the Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.
There have been some controversial opinions from within the community as to whether or not the new hotel will benefit the city. Many community members have expressed their optimism towards the new boutique hotel, hoping it will result in a space usable to the community and helpful to the Bend economy. Kaylee Burruss, the manager of Evergreen, a clothing shop located on Wall Street near the proposed hotel, manifests her hopes for the new development.
“I think it could have a potential positive impact on the store, bringing in more customers,” said Burruss.
Other businesses in the area such as Tactics, a snowboard and skate shop, and Thump, a local coffee shop, express similar enthusiasm. Tim Picerno, a manager of Tactics, agrees that a new hotel will benefit the community.
“Any time you’re adding jobs for a new business that is always a good thing,” Picerno said. “I don’t think this will take anything away from the community.”
However, many students and staff from Summit High School have had a more negative outlook on this proposal.
“I don’t think we need a hotel in that location,” shared Summit English teacher Kelsie Layana. “It would be a cool community center or children’s center where families could come and enjoy the location while experiencing the architecture of something historic.”
Concerns around Bend’s growth are always scrutinizing, but with rapid development in and around town, skepticism of projects like this is not surprising. The new residential units by the box factory, for example, have led to a spike in complaints regarding new construction. In agreement that the proposed plan will disrupt the flow of the downtown area, Adeline Bennett, Summit junior, does not think we need the new hotel.
“I think it’s important to keep historical buildings as is and the parking will become a pain,” Bennett said.
Many other historical buildings have undergone similar renovations but maintained their integrity. For example, the old lumber mill, which is now occupied by REI, was given another shot at life. Dane Weber, Summit junior, believes in giving the old post office another chance.
“I think it’s great for the tourists coming into town while also centralizing them downtown and keeping them farther from more exotic locations farther out that the locals might want to themselves,” Weber said.
According to the Bend Bulletin, the original post office was decidedly “too small for a growing city” and left unoccupied while the post office moved to a new building on Northeast Fourth Street.
Proponents point out the risks of not renovating the old post office could result in complete demolition of the historic facade. The old crane shed in the Old Mill District, renowned for its arched roof timbers was torn down instead of preserved to make way for new modern hotel buildings.
