NEIGHBORHOOD SYNOPSIS

Central Coos Bay

This neighborhood comprises downtown Coos Bay and the majority of the original residential area of what was once known as Marshfield. Most of the original commercial buildings in downtown Coos Bay were built at the turn of the 20^th Century (late 1800s/early 1900s), and are listed on the National Historic Register. Some of these buildings include the Hub Department Store, the Chandler Hotel, the American Building, the Coos Bay National Bank Building, the Tioga Hotel, the Empire Community Hall, the Myrtle Arms Apartments, Old City Hall, the Koski Building, and the Marshfield Elks Temple. The downtown area, originally located on Front Street (alongside the bay), rapidly began expanding westward following the construction of the Chandler Hotel in 1909. By the mid-1920s, the heart of downtown Coos Bay was finally centered three blocks west of its original location due in part to a devastating fire in July 1922 that destroyed most of the wood frame (as well as some of the brick) structures along Front Street. Arguably the most recognized and celebrated building in downtown Coos Bay is the Egyptian Theater. This building was originally constructed as a garage, and was later converted to a theater in 1925. The theater could seat 770 patrons, and was styled after the Egyptian Revival motif so popular in the early 1920s (following the discovery of King Tut’s Tomb in 1922). The neighborhood is bordered on the north by Central Avenue, on the east by the Bay, on the south by Johnson Avenue, and the west by Anderson Avenue.

Central is the main business and retail area of Coos Bay, and as such, includes many restaurants and public buildings. There are several community festivals, events, and parades centered in this area, as well as the Coos Bay Boardwalk. Some of the annual festivals include the Blackberry Arts Festival, the Bay Area Fun Festival, and the 4^th of July Fireworks. During the summer months, a Farmer’s Market can be found every Wednesday behind the Egyptian Theater. Residents in this area enjoy close proximity to the entire goings on, of course, and some also enjoy bay views. Other highlights of this area include the Pottery Company (paint your own pottery, it is then glazed and fired for you), First Friday Wine Walk and the Coos Art Museum.

In March 2011, the homes for sale in this neighborhood ranged in price from $62,500 to $539,900, the majority of which were below $200,000. Most of the homes sold in the neighborhood 6 months prior to this period had 3 or 4 bedrooms, and were between 1200 and 2800 square feet of living space. All of the home sales were below $200,000, with the average sale price being $100,600. The homes in this neighborhood were built from the 1890s to the 1950s and range from the more modest 1920s or 1930s Bungalow, to the early 20^th Century Traditional style, and to the Mid-20^th Century Ranch style home. Some of the earlier homes also reflect the Colonial, Victorian, Salt Box, and Cape Cod styles. Although new construction is nearly non-existent in this neighborhood, some of the homes have been beautifully updated or restored to their original grandeur.