The Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency approved reimbursement for the development of Wasson Street Townhomes for replacement and moving a public sewer line. The development is located next to the Empire Fire Station and will have nine moderately priced townhomes available for rent around July. The agency approved $98-thousand dollars to move a sewer line behind and for replacing curbs, gutters, and sidewalks in front of the development. The city had asked Developer, Adam Rutherford to move the line so it could erect a fence. The funds will assist the developer to keep rent within the anticipated price per square foot for workforce housing.
In other business, the agency gave consensus to staff to begin preparing plan amendments to the Downtown and Empire Urban Renewal Plans. The downtown expansion if approved by multiple taxing districts would aid in the development of an urban campground in south Coos Bay. In his City Manager Report, Rodger Craddock announced that he had learned that the Devereaux Center, which has proposed a 25 unit urban campground, has secured one year of operating expenses and funding for shelters. The city will likely have to spend $40-thousand to fence and bring in water and power services to the lot located near the city shops. The temporary shelters would be supervised 24 hours a day and 7-days a week. The unhoused would also have to apply to participate. Expansion of the boundary in Empire would help the city fund needed infrastructure for a new library near John Topits Park.