City of Coos Bay release – The Empire District is a historic area on the far west side 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 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 City of Coos Bay adopted the Empire Urban Renewal Plan and District to improve the function, condition, and appearance of the Empire Area and to strengthen the district’s economy. Additionally, the City adopted the Empire Waterfront Settlement Design Review Area, which requires private and public development to evoke the architectural styles which existed in Empire from the mid-to-late 1800s. In 2008, the City adopted the Hollering Place Master Plan after a citizen-led effort convinced the City to purchase the 3.68-acre property for purposes of redeveloping the waterfront. This property is located at the west end of Newmark, north of the Empire Boat Ramp. The City recently completed the June 21, 2022 Front Street Blueprint for the Front Street Area located near the City’s downtown corridor to address objectives for development of a cohesive, multimodal transportation loop that will enhance the economic development potential, and safety of the area. The Mayor and City Council would like to see the same efforts done for the Empire Area. Last Tuesday, Council awarded a contract to David Evans and Associates to be the City’s consultant and lead the efforts for a Blueprint of the Empire Area. The Blueprint will consider the need for new policies, code amendments, and funding tools necessary to fulfill the Urban Renewal Area goals and objectives. It is anticipated this effort will take 12 months to complete. The City will be looking for volunteers interested in working with the City and their consultant to create, shape, and provide input on the Blueprint. Candidates wanting to serve on this committee can email their letter of interest to the City’s Planning Administrator Chelsea Schnabel at cschnabel@coosbay.org.
