What is the purpose of urban renewal?
The intent of urban renewal is to improve specific areas of a city that are poorly developed or underdeveloped, eliminate “blighting” conditions and improve conditions to encourage economic development. Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Chapter 457 establishes and governs urban renewal districts. Administrative costs associated with implementation of urban renewal projects are an allowable expenditure of urban renewal funds.
The City of Coos Bay has two separate urban renewal districts. The Downtown Plan includes the downtown core area and the industrial/commercial/recreational areas located along the bay. The Empire Plan is located on Newmark Avenue and the waterfront area along the bay.
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Egyptian Theatre
The historic Egyptian Theatre is a vibrant entertainment complex operated for the benefit of the greater Coos Bay Area community. The non-profit Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association (ETPA) , in cooperation with the city's Urban Renewal Agency, works to preserve, restore and operate the Egyptian on behalf of the city and the community. The theatre plays current and classic movies and hosts community events. A superb example of the Egyptian Revival style popular in the 1920's, the Egyptian Theatre remains much as it did in 1925. The operational Wurlitzer Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra organ is the only theater organ in the state of Oregon that is still in use at the theater where it was originally installed. Due to the Theatre’s historical significance, the Egyptian Theatre was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 2010.
FAQs
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× Where can I go for assistance with opening a new business?
Contact the City of Coos Bay Public Works and Community Development Department at 541-269-8918 for information on business license requirements, zoning, urban renewal, and façade improvement grant program. Local agencies include the Business Development Center (541-756-6866), Business Oregon (541-267-4651), Coos Curry Douglas Business Development Corp (CCD) (541-756-4101), and South Coast Development Council (SCDC) (541-888-7003).
Urban Renewal Downtown
The Coos Bay Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and Report were adopted in 1988.
The Coos Bay Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and Report were adopted in 1988 in accordance to Oregon state law. The Downtown District begins at the north city limits and runs between the navigation channel and Highway 101 south and southeast toward the city's core area. The district's boundaries proceed south until they come nearly in line with the industrial property located in Eastside. The eastern boundary then turns east to include the industrial-commercial lands in the Eastside area. The westerly boundary proceeds west to include the downtown core area which was a part of the first Urban Renewal Plan and also includes several blocks of transportation corridor immediately west of the core area. The eastern and western urban renewal area boundaries begin to come together in the southern portion of the city and extend to the south city limits along Coalbank Slough.
The Downtown Plan classifies potential urban renewal projects in three general, broad categories:
- Waterfront Development
- Core Area Revitalization
- Streets and Infrastructure
Related Documents
Urban Renewal Empire
The Empire URA rejuvenates the historic area.
The Empire district is a historic area on the far west area of the city. Founded in 1853, Empire was once an independent city and was the county seat, poised to become the economic and governmental center of the region. Commerce then shifted farther east towards the more protected bay, and Empire declined. The city of Empire voted to consolidate with Coos Bay in 1965. The historic buildings and varied businesses still show the pride of the area and tie the area to the working waterfront.
The Empire Urban Renewal District borders the bayfront adjacent to Empire Blvd from Wisconsin Avenue north to the shoreline. At the intersection of Empire Blvd and Newmark Avenue, east on either side of Newmark Avenue to the intersection with Ocean Blvd, east to the property line between Norman Avenue and LaClair Street.
The objectives of the Empire Plan are to improve the function, condition, and appearance of the urban renewal area and eliminate existing blight. Project categories:
- Waterfront Development
- Empire Blvd. and Bayfront Improvements
- Improve Primary Commercial Area
Related Documents
URA Annual Reports
Annual Reports are filed with the City Council each January.
Oregon Revised Statues (ORS) 457.460 requires a financial impact statement from the Urban Renewal Agency be filed with the City Council by January 31st of each year. The annual reports are in addition to the Urban Renewal budgets which are adopted after a public budget process, a public hearing before the Urban Renewal Agency, and in addition to the annual Urban Renewal Agency Audit.
Components of the financial report include:
- The amount of money received during the preceding fiscal year and the indebtedness incurred.
- The purposes and amounts for which money received, including indebtedness, were expended during the previous fiscal year.
- An estimate of money received in the current fiscal year, including indebtedness.
- A budget identifying the purposes and estimated amounts to be received for the current fiscal year and how funds are to be expected.
- An analysis of impacts, if any, of carrying out the plan for all taxing authorities for the preceding year.