World Photo by Lou Sennick The city of Coos Bay is considering plans to spend $1.1 million in upgrades to the visitor’s center along U.S. Highway 101.

COOS BAY — The city of Coos Bay is looking to attract more tourists and inject money into the economy at the same time by upgrading its visitor’s information center at the east end of Central Avenue.

A plan to add two public restrooms has morphed into a $1.1 million project to add a pavilion, extend the existing structure to the east and blend it architecturally with surrounding buildings.

And the Urban Renewal Agency wants work to begin quickly.

Hilary Baker of Crow/Clay & Associates has released her latest design to the agency. It includes two public restrooms that would be open all the times, more office space for city staff and a pavilion to house a gift shop and display area. Its exterior would feature a brick facade similar to the nearby American and Chandler buildings, as well as heavy timber trusses similar to those found on the Coos Bay Boardwalk.

Baker had presented a somewhat smaller version at a meeting in August with a price tag in the area of $700,000. She said the cost increase was due to an addition of about 400 square feet to the planned renovations. It now would create a facility with 3,800 square feet and it could get more expensive. There hasn’t been a geotechnical study of the site.

Mayor Jeff McKeown said he experienced some sticker shock when he saw the estimate, but wants to go ahead with the work to encourage tourists to stop.

“The more of these people we can get to stop, the more we can revitalize our downtown,” he said.

Mark Daily noted that the city doesn’t have much say in attracting big business to the area, but it can do something to attract tourists.

“Visitors and tourists are one of the few things within our grasp to nurture,” he said. “I think this is a great step forward for us.”

The first-term councilor did express an interest in moving the expansion south, which would reduce the impact on parking. The plan calls for eliminating 14 of the 56 nearby parking spaces, though none of the RV slots.

Baker warned against this suggestion. Projecting the center south would mean building into the Central Avenue right-of-way, thus obstructing the view of the bay from City Hall and the rest of the street.

City Manager Chuck Freeman also noted that keeping the building on the existing site with its existing pilings would save money.

Economic and Community Development Manager Joyce Jansen said the project would be funded with a bond that would draw on Urban Renewal Agency funds. The city hasn’t decided where it would relocate the center during construction, though Jansen said one possibility is to move into a portable office building in a nearby parking lot.

Katherine Hoppe, director of promotion and conventions for the Coos Bay-North Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau, asked Baker to modify the entrance to a parking area. She doesn’t believe it has enough space for larger vehicles to easily exit.

Baker said she could have a revised floor plan ready for the agency within two weeks. She said construction could begin in July, though agency members would like to see a contractor break ground sooner.

“I really want to make sure we keep this timeline to meet this next building season,” McKeown said. “I really think that’s important.”