GREEN BAY - After seven years of changing plans and delays, apartment construction should begin this year in the city’s Shipyard Redevelopment Area.
Iowa-based Merge Urban Development got preliminary approval Monday for its updated plan for the first phase of its multibuilding, mixed-use redevelopment along the Fox River just south of Bridge Street.
The private development will activate a long-vacant site along South Broadway and generate new property tax revenue needed to pay down the millions of dollars the city borrowed to acquire land and construct nearly-completed public improvements along the Fox River.
Here's the latest on what's been happening in the area.
What is the Shipyard redevelopment area?
The Shipyard redevelopment area is roughly bounded by Mason Street, the Fox River, Ashland Avenue and Bridge Street. Part of the focus extends west of Broadway, too.
The city in 2017 first laid out plans to redevelop the area's unused industrial land and vacant, city-owned riverfront property into a new baseball stadium for the Green Bay Rockers, an indoor concert venue and a sports bar.
When the concert venue and stadium moved to Ashwaubenon, the city revamped the site plans to focus on commercial development and multifamily housing, complemented by expansive public recreation spaces and a commercial plaza along South Broadway. Breakthrough, a transportation and logistics firm that helps shippers improve efficiency, briefly considered the site for its headquarters, but moved into Titletown instead.
Merge proposes housing, Green Bay adds riverfront trail and amenities
Merge, in spring 2021, proposed a 225-unit, two building mixed-use project for the site, contingent on the city starting work on a riverfront path and public improvements that include:
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A multimodal path,
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Floating dock,
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Fishing pier,
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Habitat enhancement, and
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Accessible kayak launch
The city expects this phase of public improvements to be completed, weather permitting, by July this year.
The city created a tax incremental financing district, or TIF, for the site and has borrowed about $12.1 million to pay for property acquisition, site preparations and the first phase of public amenities.
Merge’s plans now include three buildings, not two
Merge originally proposed a two-building project for the site north of the boat slip at the center of the site.
Plans the Green Bay Plan Commission approved on Monday show the first phase will split the first building into two buildings and connect them via a multistory skywalk. The plans needed approval because the buildings include apartments on the first floor, fewer on-site parking spots, a smaller lot size and would be located close to Bridge Street.