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Summary: Two years after the City Council voted to make the boardwalk plan part of the city's comprehensive plan, what progress is being made and why should you stay committed?
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Summary: Due to an inability to pay its bills, Washinton Commons is being closed.
What This Means: For years now this one property has been the black eye that's held back progress in the downtown. Once the savior of a struggling downtown, the former Port Plaza Mall's decline has become the symbol for the fortunes of the downtown, even in recent years as new projects have been completed and the area's fortunes have begun to improve. The closing of the Commons is a step towards continued progress downtown.
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Summary: Area developer Tom Juza has proposed a complex called Olde Main Street Village for the 1100 block of main street. The project would include retail, restaurants, residentail, and a refurbished NEW Job Center. The city council has granted unanimous approval to the concept.
Why This Works: This plan is the right scale for the neighborhood it would be placed in, and could be a major catalyst to continue the improvements in the Olde Main Street District.
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Summary: Ashwaubenon is working to develop a corridor between Oneida Street and Holmgren Way, from the Arena complex to Bay Park Square Mall into a pedestrian avenue.
Why it Works: This plan would bring Ashwaubenon its first urban-style neighborhood, with opportunities to live, work, and play all within the development. This type of planning maximizes land use, and takes advantage of the populatity of Bay Park Square Mall and the Packers/Arena entertainment district.
Status: New TIF proposal will help further the effort to make this plan a reality.
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Summary: At the Green Bay City Council's December 20 meeting final approve was given for both the Astor Place and River Center projects. Astor Place will be a 17-story condominium complex with up to 88 residential units as well as a market, banquet facility and ground level retail. River Center is a mixed use complex on the Younkers property. It will house condos, apartments, retail, the NEW Children's Muesum and more. In addition, the riverfront boardwalk will be built to coincide with the completion of these projects, and a 12 month planning option was given to Vetter Denk for the lot on the corner of Walnut and Washington Streets.
What This Means: For Astor Place, where presales of the condos have been strong, this decision paves the way for construction to begin in the summer of 2006. In the case of River Center, this decision clears the path for presales to begin and for Vetter Denk to get its end of the bargain in order. If everything goes to plan Vetter Denk will close on the property by May 1 with demolition of Younkers to begin within 30 days after that. Finally, the twelve month planning option gives Vetter Denk a stronger position from which to persue a signature office building for downtown Green Bay's most visible corner.
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Summary: APAC Customer Services has agreed to locate its Allouez call center in the Baylake City Center downtown. The move keeps APAC from leaving the area alltogether, and adds significantly to the number of people downtown on a daily basis.
What This Means: This is great news for restaurants and retailers downtown. Bringing 1,000 people down on a daily basis can only strengthen existing businesses, and is yet another symbol that the business community is seeing the value of a downtown location.
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Summary: At the November 1 City Council meeting, the council voted 8-2 to approve design funding for the riverfront boardwalk and reaffirm their support of the plan. This decision overturns action by the Improvement and Service committee to put the contract on hold and persue other plans.
What This Means: The vote keeps momentum behind the plan, and the strong showing of public support at the council meeting in favor of the boardwalk again demonstrates continued public support for the downtown.
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Summary: Two developers made presentations to the Redevelopment Authority for development of the Younkers site. John Vetter presented a $56 to $67 million plan that centered around public amenities. Another Milwaukee based developer talked about his experience redeveloping the Marshall Field's building in downtown Milwaukee and supposed that a development would be in the $40 million range, but had no specific plans, models, or renderings for the site. For more details of the Vetter plan click on the above link.
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Summary: Washington Commons owners Development Associates are in negotiations with APAC Customer Services to move their area offices downtown into the former JC Pennys building. The City of Green Bay would provide $3 million in loans to help facilitate the project.
What This Means: The plan would bring 800 jobs into the downtown, which can only be a good thing.
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Summary: More than 60% of the units in the proposed Astor Place development have been reserved. The developer was looking for 40% in order for the project to proceed, so this number seems to indicate that chances of this proposal becoming reality are strong.
What This Means: Unless a large number of the reservations fall through, this building should get built. Between bringing more residents downtown and the public ammenities this project will provide, this is great news for downtown. This building would be a great compliment to the riverfront development plans... naturally enough since John Vetter is both the developer of this building and the catalyst behind the riverfront design plan.
Action: A strong presence by downtown supporters at this meeting is vital. Contact your alderman and tell him that you support these plans and progressive downtown development.
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Summary: The City of Green Bay has removed plans to restore the street grid through the site of the current Washington Commons. Development Associates, the owners of the Commons, have been at odds with the city over this provision in the downtown plan, saying that uncertainty about the Commons' future was discouraging potential tenants. This barrier has now been removed.
What This Means: Downtown malls have failed in cities all across the country, and Washington Commons is no exception. The current owners of the mall haven't been able to overcome the downward momentum they inherited, and occupancy in the mall has continued to fall (for a brief history of the mall with mall directories from 1977, 2000, and 2004, click here... note that the UWGB Downtown Learning Center is now added to the 2004 tenant list). This decision by the city gives mall owners a chance to prove that they can finally reverse the trend.
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Summary: With developer Tom Juza's planning option expired, Green Bay is looking for new proposals for the former Younker's site. Differences over a few key issues, among those the amount of funding for the public space along the riverfront, stalled negotiations between the city and Juza. The city is now soliciting proposals for the space from local and national developers, and John Vetter has already stated his interest in the property. Developers have until October 1 to bring forward their proposals.
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Summary: The Green Bay City Council will take up several key issues at the Tuesday, May 17 Meeting. On the agenda are the Redevelopment Authority's recommendation to grant an 8 month planning option on the Admiral Flatley Park site to Vetter-Denk for the Astor Place proposal, and the recommendation by both the RDA and the plan commission of the "Boardwalk" riverfront concepts as developed by StoSS Landscape Urbanism. Also expect to hear from developer Tom Juza who has been trying for some time to successfully develop a plan for the Younker's site.
Action: A strong presence by downtown supporters at this meeting is vital. Contact your alderman and tell him that you support these plans and progressive downtown development.
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Summary: Chris Reed from StoSS Landscape Urbanism, the Boston firm working on riverfront design options, will be presenting several options for the riverfromt at the Meyer Theatre at 8:00 Thursday, May 12. The event is open to the public.
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Summary: At their May 10 meeting, the Green Bay Redevelopment Authority approved an eight-month planning option for Vetter-Denk to finalize plans to develop the Admiral Flatley site. Additionally, the RDA will consider on Thursday, May 12 terms for Tom Juza's proposed development for the Younker's site. Expect that both of these items will be aken up at the next city council meeting on Tuesday, May 17.
What This Means: Planning options don't necessarily mean that development will actually take pace, but rather give the developers time to flesh out their plans. The City Council will also need to approve the planning option before it takes effect.
Status: The Redevelopment Authority meets at 10:30 on Thursday, where Chris Reed form StoSS Landscape Urbanism will present plans for the riverfront before a joint meeting of the RDA and Green Bay Plan Commission. The City Council will meet at 7:00 next Tuesday.
Action: A strong presence by downtown supporters at these meetings is vital. Contact your alderman and tell him that you support these plans and progressive downtown development.
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Summary: The April 6 meeting of the Green Bay City Council promises to be an interesting one for downtown supporters. Presented at that meeting will be plans by John Vetter for a development of the Admiral Flatley Park site, a presentation by Russ DeMIlle and associates for an update of and possible 12-story addition to the Days Inn building, as well as an update from Development Associates on future plans for Washington Commons.
Additionally, on the heels of the Redevelopment Authority's March 30 meeting, the City Council will act upon the RDA's report endorsing Tom Juza's plan for development of the Younkers/Prange's site, but including 15 terms relating to the development including adhering the the plan to develop the Admiral Flatley site.
What This Means: Increasing numbers of developers are taking interest in the downtown as momentum builds behind the downtown. While this is a good thing, downtown supporters will need to stay involved to ensure that developments are of high-quality and in accordance with the comprehensive downtown plan.
Status: The Redevelopment Authority meets at 12:30 on April 6, during which John Vetter will present a plan for the Admiral Flatley site, and Chris Reed from StoSS will provide an update on the status of the riverfront public space. The City Council will meet at 7:00.
Action: A strong presence by downtown supporters at the April 6 meeting of the CIty Council is vital. If you can attend, the meeting begins at 7:00.
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Summary: The Downtown Design Plan calls for the Washington Street to be straightened between Washington Commons and Main Street. Doing so would open up the Admiral Flatley Park site for development, and as part of the agreement in which Vetter Denk gave the city the riverfront plan at no cost Vetter Denk is to get the first rights to develop this site. Recently, several developments have taken place that could potentially alter this course of action.
First, certain members of the City Council seem confused as to whether or not the Council in fact gave Vetter rights to develop the Admiral Flatley site when the Council approved the downtown plan. Additionally, developer Tom Juza, who has been working for some time on an as yet unfinished plan to redevelop the Younker's/Prange's site, has stated his desire for the Admiral Flatley site to remain undeveloped.
Finally, a group comprised of Mohammad Rashid, owner of the Day's Inn, along with Russ DeMille and Fred Fleck, from Development Associates, owners of the struggling Washington Commons, are now proposing a 12 to 14 story tower on the Day's Inn site. In an unusual step, this group plans to present their plan at the April 6 meeting of the City Council. Such a development could prevent the straightening of Washington Street, thus interfering with development of that site.
What This Means: When undertaking something has big as downtown redevelopment, disagreements will always be had, and obstacles will always pop-up. The key is to make sure that disagreement over this one site does not derail the entire riverfront development process, and that opposing sides on this issue do not become so entrenched that they cannot work together in the future.
Status: In an unusual step, the group proposing the tower on the Day's Inn site will present their plan initially in front of the City Council on April 6. Tom Juza plans to return to the Redevelopment Authority later this month with the latest updates for his plan to redevelop the Younker's/Pragne's site. Riverfront Lofts, the first of Vetter Denk's new developments along the river has had strong pre-sales and construction could begin next month.
Action: A strong presence by downtown supporters at the Aprill 6 meeting of the CIty Council is vital. If you can attend, the meeting begins at 7:00.
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Summary: The Downtown Design Plan calls for the restoration of the grid street pattern through the Washington Commons site, and Mayor Jim Schmitt seems committed to making this happen.
Why it Works: In terms of perception, the mall drives people's views of downtown. The mindset seems to exist that because the mall is failing, the downtown is failing, even in light of the progress that is being made. From a practical perspective, dispite the best effots of Wasington Commons' management, the mall is a great waste of real estate. The mall is not the best use for that site, and drastic action is necessary to redevelop this space.
Status: Washington Commons management has recenlty send letters to the Mayor and City Council claiming the Mayor is interfering with the Commons' ability to recruit tenants. Previously, a group from Green Bay, including the Mayor, visited with the Cordish Company in Baltimore and will meet with other developers regarding the site.
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Summary: The Green Bay city council unanimously apporved terms for the Riverfront Lofts condominium project being developed by Milwaukee firm Vetter Denk. If all goes well the project will begin construction this spring.
The council also approved a $97,500 contract with Boston landscape architecture firm StoSS to refine and determine the feasability of the riverfront plan.
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Summary: Milwaukee architectural firm Vetter Denk, in conjunction with Boston landscape architecture firm StoSS Landscape Urbanism, has proposed a dramatic plan to reshape Downtown Green Bay. Under this plan, the east-side riverfront would become an urban park, with new mixed-use developments in vacant areas between the park and Washington Street. The west side of the river would be a more "environmental" area, with appropriate plantings. Further phases of the plan aim to restore the grid system to the downtown that has been broken by various developments.
Why it Works: Public spaces are the cornerstone of successful urban areas. This plan takes Downtown Green Bay's most valuable asset, the river, and transforms it into public "room" suitable for a variety of uses. Such public spaces also benefit their communities by raising the land values of surrounding properties.
Status: The Green Bay City Council has voted unanimously to add this plan to the city's comprehensive plan. The Green Bay Redevelopment Authority had previously recomended that the plan be added to the city's comprehensive plan.
Action: Write a letter to the editor of the Green Bay Press-Gazette or News Chronicle supporting this development. Call or write your local representatives and tell them that you support the downtown and this development in particular.
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Date: Wednesday, January 26th,
Time: Networking begins at 7:30 a.m., program from 8 to 8:45
a.m.
Location: Meyer Theatre, Washington St.
Cost: Free
Summary: The nearly 400 people gathered at the "Good Morning Downtown" event held at the Meyer Theatre saw John Vetter of Vetter Denk Architects present his vision for the future of downtown Green Bay. Mr. Vetter discussed his experience with the Beerline project in Milwaukee, the process that went into developing the Green Bay plan, and what the next steps will be in making the plan reality.
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Summary: The Village of Howard continues to move forward with plans to develop land into a new village center. The center will contain town houses and park space with amenities within walking distance for residents.
Why it Works: Urban style developments within suburbs benefit their communities by maximizing land value, combating sprawl, and creating a unique sense of place the community can identify with.
Status: The village is investigating the best uses for the space and a plan should be available in February.
Action: Write a letter to the editor of the Green Bay Press-Gazette or News Chronicle supporting this development. Howard residents can call or write your representative on the Board of Trustees and tell them that you support this development.
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Summary: Builder Tom Juza, along with architect Dan Roarty, has presented a plan to the Green Bay Redevelopment Authority and the City Council to overhaul the site of the former Prange's/Younker's store on Washington St.
While many details of the plan are still to be determined, the concept calls for maintaining the historic protion of the Younker's building, while removing newer sections (the yellow brick portion facing the river, the the white brick portion on the north side of the building) to make way for new development. Plans for the site include an entertainment building, a botique hotel, apartments and/or condos, and ground-level space for retail.
Status: The exact nature of the project is still unknown, but the developer and city have been given approval to begin negotiating terms of an agreement to provide TIF funding for the project.
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