What is Urban Renewal?

The purpose of urban renewal is to stimulate economic development in areas that need revitalization through private investment in specific districts within the City of Coos Bay.  This program is governed by state statute and is a partnership between the City and property owners. Investment is made in these districts, which in turn helps eliminate blighted conditions, rejuvenate dilapidated buildings and improve the economy. As these conditions improve, property values rise, and tax revenues increase for the city, county, and schools. 

Urban Renewal Districts (URD)

The City of Coos Bay has two urban renewal districts (URD), the Downtown URD and Empire URD. In each district there are goals and plans that direct the economic revitalization projects of these core areas. The Urban Renewal District Maps show each district’s boundaries. You can learn more about recent urban renewal projects in these districts in the annual Urban Renewal Agency reports.

Urban Renewal Improvement Program

The Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency (URA) offers building improvement financing through the Urban Renewal Improvement Program for the Empire and Downtown Urban Renewal Districts. Available funding changes each fiscal year. If funding is available, a business/property owner can apply for an improvement grant and the request will be reviewed by our Urban Renewal Agency. You can learn more about the program, and submit a request for information or a pre-application. All requests are reviewed by our Economic Development Division prior to completing a pre-application form. 

Urban Renewal Funding

Urban Renewal is not a new tax or a tax rate increase. Urban renewal is unique in that it has its own funding source, tax increment financing. At the time the proposed urban renewal plan is adopted, the county assessor calculates the total assessed value of the area and establishes this value as the “frozen base” for the area. Growth above the base within the urban renewal district is called the “increment”. Tax increment revenues are the property tax revenues generated from the increase in the assessed values over the frozen base. The tax revenues are invested back into the urban renewal districts and over time the improvements raise property values, revitalize core areas and stimulate the overall economy.  

History

Coos Bay has used urban renewal previously to improve the city for many years. Before the Empire and Downtown Urban Renewal Districts, Coos Bay created an urban renewal district in the central downtown core area in 1968 that extended from the bay on the east to 4th Street on the west and from Commercial Avenue on the north to Curtis Avenue on the south. The district's projects consisted of elimination of traffic on Central Avenue from Highway 101 to 4th Street and the creation of a pedestrian mall, undergrounding of many utilities within the district, property acquisition to create parking lots and remove blighted structures, and canopied walkways to connect parking lots and other district areas with the pedestrian mall. The projects were completed in the early 1970s. The district ceased tax increment revenue financing in 1984 and the district ended in 1989. The lasting impact of these improvements is evident in the popular walkable downtown and numerous festivals and community events now held in the area.

The Downtown URD was formed in 1988 and includes the shopping district and the upper portion of the bay. The Empire URD was formed in 1995 and includes a business district and the lower portion of the bay. These districts have helped finance many public and private projects over the years, including the Dolphin Playhouse Theater, historic mural, road improvements, pedestrian crossings, and the addition of ADA ramps to Empire sidewalks. 

Urban renewal has been instrumental in many notable community improvements, including helping to restore the Egyptian Theatre, expanding the Eastside Boat Ramp, and doing seismic upgrades at City Hall. In the private sector, the Façade Improvement Grant Program helped revitalize landmarks such as the old Coos Bay National Bank Building and South Coast Office Supply. The Egyptian Theatre and Tioga Building restorations, 4th Street roadway reconstruction, the Coos Bay Village traffic safety infrastructure, and façade improvements at many local businesses all reflect urban renewal investment. 

Governance

The Urban Renewal Agency is headed by the Urban Renewal Board, whose membership consists of the Mayor and City Council. Staff support for the URA comes from the city’s Economic Development Division. The URA is governed by the URA Rules. 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.

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