Schmitt favors 16-story building for Adams Street parking lot site

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- If Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt has his way, the city's downtown could be getting taller.

“I think Green Bay needs to do that,” said Schmitt. “I think Green Bay deserves it. I think we can afford it and that is something I'd like to see done here.”

Out of three proposals, Schmitt is backing Base Companies and Barsan Construction's $60.7 million plan to build 16 and 11 story buildings at the corner of Adams and Cherry Streets. The corner is currently a parking lot.

“I think once we break that, we'll see even more skyline type development,” said Schmitt.

Another proposal for the prominent corner is from Bond Realty. It wants to build a six-story, $17.7 million building.

The other proposal is from T.Wall Enterprises. It calls for four stories, in a trident shape, with about a $35 million price tag.

“The CityDeck is within easy walking distance, a lot of restaurants are nearby, we think there will be a lot of demand for residential potential here,” said Jeff Mirkes, the executive director of Downtown Green Bay, Inc.

The 16 and 11 story buildings call for 130 housing units. The six-story option has 112 units and the four-story building offers 250 units.

Specific rent prices were not included in the three proposals. However, Base Companies and Basan Construction’s proposal says it will have “affordable options for business and residence.”

Bond Realty’s proposal says its housing will be market rate.

T. Wall Enterprises’ proposal says renters will likely have incomes ranging between $50,000 and $150,000 per year.

“Without a doubt, we know over a period of time, we're at the belief the downtown needs 1,000 residential units,” said Mirkes. “We believe 100 units should be under construction at all times.”

The city's Redevelopment Authority will be sifting through all three proposals. It hopes to vote on one at its October 9th meeting.

More on the 16 and 11 story buildings proposal:

“We propose two high-rise buildings joined by an open, green courtyard that will add a bold, unique, and distinctive shape to the city’s skyline. The ground level floors will house commercial space and upper level floors will meet market demands for apartments, condominiums and offices. Our proposed mixed-use development will provide a safe, healthy, well-connected site that complements existing venues while enhancing the beauty and vitality of the downtown district,” the proposal states.

It includes 300 parking spaces around, under and within the buildings, including 121 for the public. The 11-story tower would include 50 apartments, retail space, offices, a restaurant, and rooftop space for residents. The 16-story tower would include condominiums and penthouse suites. The $60.7 million project would require city TIF assistance for the financing aspect.

More on the six-story proposal:

“The development of this project builds upon the cities ambition of extending and strengthening the retail and pedestrian corridors of the surrounding neighborhood by providing space for public parking,retail, public squares and arcades for pedestrian movement and civic art, and a scale and datum aligned with the local modern and historic vernacular,” the proposal states.

The $17.7 million plan does not ask for TIF assistance, but “it is requested that the City build and design the podium under the apartments,” it states.

More on the four-story proposal:

“Our overall concept is to develop a beautiful and appropriately sized new community that is woven into the fabric of downtown rather than a freestanding building walled off by itself. We have studied the land and surrounding buildings and based upon the challenges of the site and adjacent buildings, we feel that the city really needs to execute on the plan to build the new central town square with a new residential community that is tied to that,” the plan states.

The building would include approximately 250 apartments, built in four phases. Retail space would face Washington Street. It includes no or minimal public parking. Financing would include TIF assistance.