Port of Coos Bay Purchasing Former Mill Site

Coos Bay
Coos Bay
The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay is buying the former Georgia Pacific Mill site from real estate development firm CDC Inc. Photo via the Port of Coos Bay.

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay has entered into an agreement to acquire the former Georgia Pacific Mill site from current owner, Commercial Development Company (CDC) Inc. of St. Louis.

The port said that it intends to rehabilitate the site and return it to service, utilizing the facility for the movement of goods and commodities through maritime, rail , and trucking for both domestic and international markets.

The port and CDC are currently in a 60-day due-diligence period that ends before Christmas. The two parties say they intend to finalize the sale before the end of the year. Once the sale is final, the port plans to conduct additional environmental, permitting, engineering, and design work prior to initiating construction.

“With this facility back in service, it is anticipated that it will bring with it the addition of well-paying family wage jobs to the area including longshore labor, yard workers and cargo handlers, as well as additional rail-line crews,” Port of Coos Bay CEO John Burns said.

Port officials have said that the site could be ready to move a limited amount of cargo initially following the conclusion of Phase I construction by mid-2023, if not sooner.

“The port is currently working with multiple businesses with interest in moving products and commodities through the Port of Coos Bay to avoid congestion and its associated costs and inefficiencies found at other West Coast ports,” the port said in a statement. “Through ownership of this facility, the port will have access to a wharf, yard footprint , and rail service to facilitate regional economic development in a more effective manner.”