Old Commercial Building Gets New Life November 15, 2017
In late 2016, Heidi Sause purchased the commercial building located at 737 N Front Street in downtown Coos Bay. The building is a partial two-story structure which was built in 1940. There has been a variety of uses in the structure over the years. City Hall files indicate that in the 1950's, the structure was used as "Pat's Distributing." In later years, the building was used as a roller rink, soda bottling plant, produce distribution, Mayflower storage, V.A. meeting hall, and a mill blade sharpening shop. In more recent years, uses included retail sales of imports and books (1999-2001), saw sales/repair (1999-2000), a Saturday Market (2002-2003,) and Morrison Studios (metal fabrication).
Earlier this year, Sause approached the Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency and shared her plans on renovating the exterior façade of the building. Phase 1 of the project focused on rehabbing the east and south facing exterior walls with the goal of ensuring the original character which celebrates the “belonging and working history” of our waterfront heritage. Phase 2 of the project will focus on rehabbing the north and west facing exterior walls.
The estimated cost to complete Phase 1 of the project was $68,500 On August 15, 2017, the Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency awarded the building owner a $25,000 façade grant to assist towards completion of the first phase of the façade renovation.
Per Sause, her goal is to create intrigue. “If we make the structure appealing, clean and inviting, we hope to attract future tenants who will further invest in the revitalization of the [Coos Bay] Waterfront Heritage District and become one of the early “anchors” to launch the draw of other entrepreneurs to this area.”
Below are a series of pictures which show what the building looked like before the project started, work in progress, and a picture taken this week of the completed project (Phase 1).
Above photo taken in 2016.
Above photo taken on August 27, 2017.
Above photo taken on November 14, 2017.