Release from the City of North Bend, the city received accolades from the Oregon Economic Development Association’s for the “Urban Renewal Project of the Year”, according to a news release, for being a catalyst and strategic stakeholder in the restoration and renovation of the Liberty Theatre, which houses the Little Theatre on the Bay (LTOB). In 2015, LTOB leaders had a tough decision as its historic 1924 building was falling apart. Local officials had to decide whether to embark on an aggressive fundraising campaign to save the building or tear it down. The LTOB turned to the City of North Bend, which amended its Urban Renewal Agency District to include the theater and awarded it a $500,000 challenge grant, which opened the door for needed funding to kick-start saving the theater. Since then, over 650 unique community donors and more than 30 grant foundations have contributed more than $3.5 million to support the multi-phase project. The City and LTOB reunited again in June 2022 when the North Bend Main Street Program announced it secured a $174,805 state grant to restore the theatre’s 24-foot neon blade sign. The neon sign lit up downtown North Bend before it was taken down, likely sometime in the ‘50s. The LTOB has two years to install the sign per grant rules. The LTOB hopes to complete the final restoration work by April 2024 for the Liberty Theatre’s 100th birthday. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Jessica Engelke acknowledged the vision and investment of the current and past governing body members from 2015 onward, who also serves as North Bend Urban Renewal Agency board members. Members of LTOB’s restoration team participated in Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “Little Theatre on the Bay is so proud to have their historic Liberty Theatre restoration named the Urban Renewal Project of the Year,” said Jeanne Woods, Chairperson of the LTOB Restoration Committee. “It’s been a wonderful project in our local town that has made the arts more accessible and enjoyable by thousands of people. We’ll put the award in the glass case in the lobby so everyone in our community can enjoy it. Thank you so much for nominating us.” Established in 1994, the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of North Bend’s mission is to eliminate blight and depreciating property values in areas within the Agency’s jurisdiction, and in the process, attract job-producing private investments that will improve property values, improve the Area’s visual quality, and establish a positive linkage between the Coos Bay area and the Pacific Ocean – all in a manner consistent with the North Bend Urban Renewal Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and Zoning Regulations.
