Green Bay Development News [Archive] - Page 20

Tower Park

January 9th, 2010, 11:30 PM

From today's paper.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/Younkers-PrangesDemolition.jpg

The National Park Service has designated Green Bay a "Preserve America" community. The city recently tore down its oldest department-store building downtown for new development that's been delayed. Developers are also contemplating demolishing another historic 20th-century building, located next to the Meyer Theatre, for a new office-building project. (AP photo)

City Earns Preserve America Status

By Scott Williams
Green Bay Press-Gazette

Historic preservation advocates hope designation of Green Bay as a Preserve America community will spark renewed commitment — and possibly new funding — to protect the past.

The federal government has approved an application from City Hall to award the designation in honor of Green Bay's efforts to celebrate its heritage and history.

But more than just symbolism, the designation brings with it the possibility of new federal funding to advance the cause of historic preservation even further.

Grants of up to $250,000 are available to Preserve America communities through the National Park Service.

Mayor Jim Schmitt said he is committed to making historic preservation a higher priority.

"We will not take any history away from this community," Schmitt said. "It's one of the pillars of what Green Bay is."

Michael Iwinski, chairman of the city's Historic Preservation Commission, said he hopes the new federal recognition will help to build momentum locally for protecting important landmarks.

Iwinski noted that many historic sites in downtown Green Bay were bulldozed in the 1960s and '70s in the name of urban renewal.

"I think the tide has changed," he said. "We really do want to preserve what we have left."

The city's application for Preserve America status highlighted successes in developing Heritage Hill State Historical Park in Allouez and in protecting aging structures in the Green Bay Broadway District.

The application process took more than a year.

Chris Dunbar, executive director of the Brown County Historical Society, cheered the federal recognition.

Dunbar said her group maintains a watch list of endangered historic sites, but the historical society often can do little to actually protect those landmarks, she said.

Anything that promotes greater public awareness of historic preservation will help, she said.

"Having people realize that once it's gone, it's gone, is so important," she said.

About 20 other Wisconsin communities, including De Pere, have been honored through Preserve America. The designation is based on how well a community or neighborhood celebrates its heritage, uses historic sites for growth or revitalization or promotes historic education.

Green Bay now is listed among some 800 designees at the Preserve America Web site.

The city also can compete for federal grants that have totaled $17 million to support 228 historic preservation efforts since funding became available in 2006. A 50 percent local match is required for any grant.

Iwinski said he would like to pursue funds to conduct a comprehensive survey of historic sites in the area, which he said has not been done in more than 20 years.

Such a survey would help pave the way for programs designed to prioritize and protect important sites.

"It's not just about the buildings themselves," he said. "It's about how well the community interacts with its historic assets."

Green Bay Sponge

January 10th, 2010, 03:10 AM

^^I'm so glad our city is doing what it can to preserve its local history, unlike what happened approximately 35 years ago.

Tower Park

January 12th, 2010, 02:30 AM

Night Rider

January 12th, 2010, 06:30 PM

On Broadway names a new executive director. Christopher Naumann, 36, master's degrees in architecture and urban planning, was president and owner of a Minneapolis design and development firm, graduate of Ashwaubenon High School.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100110/GPG03/1100600/-1/archive

Speaking of Broadway, I heard the old Amerindian Center now houses people coming out of prison. I could be wrong. But if it is a prison dumping ground, it's too bad it has to be right in the heart of the Broadway district.

gbmphillips

January 12th, 2010, 07:35 PM

Speaking of Broadway, I heard the old Amerindian Center now houses people coming out of prison. I could be wrong. But if it is a prison dumping ground, it's too bad it has to be right in the heart of the Broadway district.

The state should buy the old Howard Johnsons on Ashland Ave, it would be a great place to house all of these people and one location would make it easier to keep track of them.

Tower Park

January 12th, 2010, 08:07 PM

Speaking of Broadway, I heard the old Amerindian Center now houses people coming out of prison. I could be wrong. But if it is a prison dumping ground, it's too bad it has to be right in the heart of the Broadway district.

The old AmerIndian Center used to be located on S. Broadway at Ninth, well south of today's Broadway District. It's now located on Dousman Street, if I'm accurate, in the "Aquarium" building at Broadway. The City Directory lists the United AmerIndian Center there and refers to it as an "alcoholism info/treatment" center.

I know you feel differently, but I have no problem with places like that being integrated into the rest of the community, as long as they're safely and responsibly run and don't pose a threat to people. For many years, I lived right next door to a domestic violence shelter. They were good neighbors, despite the tough clientele, and I was grateful for the good work they did.

ComedyCity remaining in downtown De Pere but at a new location.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100112/GPG03/1120567/1247/ComedyCity-to-move-new-spot

The NEW shelter on the north end of the Broadway District, next to Larsen Green, plans a $2.7 million expansion.

www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/shelter-outlines-expansion-plans

Update on a downtown bank, Associated, the second largest Wisconsin-based bank.

www.jsonline.com/business/81136542.html
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100112/GPG03/1120565/1247/Associated-Banc-Corp-reports-losses

Night Rider

January 12th, 2010, 10:24 PM

I know you feel differently, but I have no problem with places like that being integrated into the rest of the community, as long as they're safely and responsibly run and don't pose a threat to people. For many years, I lived right next door to a domestic violence shelter. They were good neighbors, despite the tough clientele, and I was grateful for the good work they did.

I admire you for wanting to live next to a transitional community. I would guess living next to a violence center full of victims, is a little different then living next to former felons. There is no perfect place for them, except prison. I just wonder how putting them in a area the city is trying to improve and right next to numerous drinking establishments is the best thing. I like the Howard Johnson idea :)

As far as the shelter expanding. Overall I guess it's good. My only concern is how many of these people are coming in from other communities (or countries) to make use of our new & now expanding shelter. We seem to be absorbing the burden unfairly. At some point enough is enough. I hate to see local families that deserve helped shoved aside because of the traveling nomads coming from everywhere else.

sr22ger

January 13th, 2010, 07:22 AM

ComedyCity remaining in downtown De Pere but at a new location.
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Not sure these owners get it. Third move now from what I remember. Over/Under 1.5 years before they are out of business for good?

As far as the shelter expanding. Overall I guess it's good. My only concern is how many of these people are coming in from other communities (or countries) to make use of our new & now expanding shelter.

I actually agree with you here (well other than the countries blast). The only part I like about the article was the note about expanding educational opportunities there. Focusing more about job training and education is worth more to the community than simply giving the homeless a meal and a place to sleep.

Tower Park

January 13th, 2010, 05:15 PM

From today's paper. Looks like a number of moving parts at play. In this article, Smet Construction is called a "partner" in the project — that sounds like a good thing. Smet built the new Chamber of Commerce building, I believe.

Proposed Baseball Stadium Update Set for February

Proponents of a baseball stadium development on the west bank of the Fox River will update the Redevelopment Authority in February on their progress.

Titletown Entertainment Foundation Inc. said in a letter to the RDA that it is seeking tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, grants from state agencies and naming rights agreements.

Green Bay Bullfrogs owner Jeff Royle received a one-year planning option in September for a $15.7 million baseball and multi-use stadium.

Royle and his partner, Smet Construction, have one year to explore whether they can obtain the financing to build the facility on 13.3 acres they would either buy or lease from the city of Green Bay.

The land is on South Broadway north of the Don A. Tilleman Bridge that carries Mason Street across the Fox River.

Also Tuesday, the RDA approved a $97,976 contract to renovate and expand the Eastman Park shelter.

Update on Ald. Vander Leest's million-dollar lawsuit against the city. He tried to prevent information on how much his lawsuit has cost the city in legal fees so far from becoming public.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100113/GPG0101/1130622/1978/City-s-legal-fees-hit-46-000-in-Vander-Leest-lawsuit

De Pere looking at waterfront options downtown, east side, in the vicinity of where the Claude Allouez Bridge used to be and intersect with Broadway. PG photo and one of the design options below.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100113/GPG0101/1130609/1978/De-Pere-waterfront-awaits-makeover

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-38-4.jpg http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-39-5.jpg

Night Rider

January 14th, 2010, 07:08 PM

Tower Park

January 14th, 2010, 09:04 PM

Anybody know what's holging up Kavarna? Matt? Sign in window says coming in summer of 2009. I believe they received stimulus funds to assist with the move. The building for the most part looks unchanged inside.

Sometimes I just hear things on the street. But in the case of Kavarna/Parisi's, I have it from someone in the know they will open in their new location around this spring. Some work was started on the new location last year but then came to a halt. I don't know the details of why things were delayed.

From their Twitter account today: "Yeah, just drove by the new building and saw actual guys doing actual work. Build out's in full swing. Take that status quo!
about 19 hours ago from Tweetie"

Nativist

January 15th, 2010, 12:09 AM

Here's the scoop on Kavarna: first, financing it took much longer then expected. What they received was a loan of stimulus funds from the city's revolving fund (one of the city's economic development bag of tricks - a Clinton era jobs creation program), so it's money they will be paying back at low interest in exchange for creating new jobs. Second, there were problems with their first contractor, so it took awhile to find a new one. They're using Smet. So that's basically it. I'm happy to see that the build out's begun, it's been a long time coming.

Tower Park

January 15th, 2010, 09:26 PM

From the minutes of the January 12 Redevelopment Authority meeting. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read this as saying about two-thirds of the $3 million still needed in financing for the WaterMark project has been raised.

"9. Director’s Report.

A. Swanson provided an update on the WaterMark project. Calumet County Bank has secured $1.75 million of the $2.8 commitment needed and is hoping to wrap things up in the next few weeks. We are waiting for the final commitment letter from Calumet County Bank that will go to WHEDA and then we can provide a better time frame. We hope to come back at the February meeting with a laid out time frame. WHEDA has progressed as far as they can go until they get a letter of commitment. WHEDA indicated in the past a time frame of around 8 weeks, so that will probably be the most time consuming portion. Once the letter of commitment is received, things will start moving."

Take this for what it's worth (my source is not the strongest), but I've heard there's a buyer for the former Chamber of Commerce building (the Milwaukee Road depot) on S. Washington St.

MattGiguere

January 16th, 2010, 02:34 AM

Anybody know what's holging up Kavarna? Matt? Sign in window says coming in summer of 2009. I believe they received stimulus funds to assist with the move. The building for the most part looks unchanged inside.

Sorry for not being around much lately guys. I'm currently on National Student Exchange to the University of New Orleans for the semester. A little bit of rain, and the entire campus power is down. So I'm sitting in a coffee house (making it somewhat relevant to the Kavarna discussion) trying to finish the daily to-dos (including reading this blog).

So, that limits my knowledge of Green Bay development to this forum, and the countless social media resources. What has been aforementioned by Tower Park and Nativist is correct. It appears things are up and running, better than ever, right now. If your interested in seeing the 'documentary,' of sorts, of the build out of Parisi's they've been sharing pictures and messages via Alex's facebook. A while back he drew me a rough sketch of the floor plan, but that has since been changed to consolidate two kitchens into one. Anyway, they are currently away to San Fransisco at a conference seeking product ideas for the shop.

The bottom line is Parisi's, and the new Kavarna, are well on their way, for real. Can't wait to see the ribbon cut on this one, it has been, as mentioned, a long time coming. I suppose I could post the pictures of the bare interior (via the facebook page) on the forum if you would like?

Morse

January 16th, 2010, 06:31 PM

Sorry for not being around much lately guys. I'm currently on National Student Exchange to the University of New Orleans for the semester. A little bit of rain, and the entire campus power is down. So I'm sitting in a coffee house (making it somewhat relevant to the Kavarna discussion) trying to finish the daily to-dos (including reading this blog).

So, that limits my knowledge of Green Bay development to this forum, and the countless social media resources. What has been aforementioned by Tower Park and Nativist is correct. It appears things are up and running, better than ever, right now. If your interested in seeing the 'documentary,' of sorts, of the build out of Parisi's they've been sharing pictures and messages via Alex's facebook. A while back he drew me a rough sketch of the floor plan, but that has since been changed to consolidate two kitchens into one. Anyway, they are currently away to San Fransisco at a conference seeking product ideas for the shop.

The bottom line is Parisi's, and the new Kavarna, are well on their way, for real. Can't wait to see the ribbon cut on this one, it has been, as mentioned, a long time coming. I suppose I could post the pictures of the bare interior (via the facebook page) on the forum if you would like?

Matt! Hook us up with some pics please :banana:

MattGiguere

January 16th, 2010, 08:32 PM

It's hard to visualize but it will, in essence, appear to be operating as two different restaurants. From what I'm told there will be a single kitchen running length-wise down the middle which will house production for 'both' restaurants. Parisi's, the new 30's style Italian Delicatessen will be on the south side of the kitchen, and Kavarna, or K2.0 as its being called, will be housed on the northern portion. (Segregation of vegans/carnivores?) Anyway, the building is kind of unique in that it has a mid level and lower level as you work your way to the back of the building. The stage for the infamous Kavarna sets will be on the mid-level, and I believe the seating, then, would be on the lower level. I'm having a bit of a hard time visualizing it, but I trust it will be a phenomenal addition to the Broadway District.

Pictures are courtesy Alex Galt, and were uploaded December 16th. Therefore, I'm sure there is much more work that has been done, but these pictures might give you a good idea of what the interior looks like. If anyone has a minute to stop by the shop and bug them for new pictures, when they get back from San Fransisco, it would be much appreciated.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs046.snc3/13348_205847593107_647578107_3170542_2897870_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs046.snc3/13348_205848098107_647578107_3170543_932326_n.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs066.snc3/13348_205848173107_647578107_3170544_7138305_n.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs066.snc3/13348_205848298107_647578107_3170545_5163278_n.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs066.snc3/13348_205848403107_647578107_3170546_2235810_n.jpg

MattGiguere

January 16th, 2010, 08:51 PM

Oh, and I'm typically not a fair weather fan, but I am in New Orleans, so 'Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?'

Lets hope either they or Dallas can hand it to the Viqueens.

MattGiguere

January 20th, 2010, 07:29 AM

Navarino Rezdnt

January 21st, 2010, 06:20 AM

Anyone got the story on why Sgambati's sold their West Mason location (now operating under the name Savvy's)?

It appears they are still looking into a second East Side Location, as per the website (sgambatisnewyorkpizza.com)

I don't know the story of the closing of their W. Mason location but if I were to guess it may be that it isn't the best location for pizza. Pizza sales are delivery driven. What I mean by that is most people consume pizza in a home setting, having the food delivered. Pizza is king of the home meal replacement (HMR) for everybody that doesn't have the time, desire or ability to cook at home. The location has been home to pizza places before, (Jim & Mary's in the '70s and Domino's in the '80s and '90s.) Domino's moved out in the '90s to open up on Military & Bond to be closer to the action on the far west side into Howard.

The rumor starts here. As for the new Sgambati's East side location, maybe it's the building on the corner of University and Danz Ave. at 2148 University that used to be home to Seigo's Japanese Steak House. It has been undergoing remodeling for the past two months. Windows were put in along the street sides of the building. I asked one of the owners of the property in passing one day what was going in there and he didn't give me much more than "It'll be a restaurant of some sorts." Last week whoever is moving in put up paper covering the windows so you can't see in. So maybe that might be Sgambati's new home.

Night Rider

January 21st, 2010, 11:47 PM

He's in Washington trying to bring home some pork. We'll see what happens. On the channel 2 news they show him holding a a large photograph of downtown that has Astor Place project completed along with other work not done. I'm not sure if it's file footage or new stuff. If it is file footage, it's time to toss it out.

FROM CHANNEL 2:

Schmitt Talks Money, Jobs, and Day for Kids at US Mayors' Meeting
Updated: Jan 21, 2010 1:07 PM CST
Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt is in Washington, DC, attending the 78th winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Mayor Schmitt spoke Thursday morning to several hundred of his mayoral counterparts promoting Green Bay's Day for Kids and how other cities can start their own community celebrations.

The mayor will also take part in a special session on jobs and the economy, hosted by President Obama.

Mayor Schmitt is also expected to speak

jerkylips999

January 23rd, 2010, 12:17 AM

Tower Park

January 23rd, 2010, 02:19 AM

Tower Park

January 23rd, 2010, 02:25 AM

old news?

I just read in one of the PG blogs that Nukeo Thai, on Main St. (in the old Chili John's, if I remember correctly) is moving to Broadway. They are going into the current/old Kavarna location when Kavarna moves. It's supposed to be April, so I guess that means Parisi's will be open in April?

I've never eaten at Nukeo because I don't get to the east side much, but I've heard very good things. I LOVE thai & go to Bangkok Garden fairly often because it's close, but honestly, I've had much better Thai than Bangkok Garden. It should be a great addition to downtown, but 2 similar restaurants in fairly close proximity - I wonder if they'll both survive?

We love both the Bangkok Garden and Nukeo Thai. Bangkok prides itself, I think, on having a large menu, while Nukeo prides itself, I think, on having a smaller menu. They're both great. I'd like to think having two Thai restaurants within a couple blocks of each other is a good thing for both — plus (speaking of Asian food) Little Tokyo in between.

A restaurant featuring southern-style & Chicago-style food — Cat & Jim's Art & Soul Cafe — has opened (someone said two months ago) in the Olde Main Street District. It's at Three Corners next to The Art Garage and Flowerama.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20101210591

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-39-6.jpg

Architectural-series article on the soon-to-be former ComedyCity building (formerly the De Pere Public Library) in downtown De Pere. (CC is moving to another location in downtown De Pere.)

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20101200642

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-40-3.jpg

Feature article on The Astor House. I still wonder why a city the size of Green Bay doesn't have more b&bs. The article refers to the Astor's location in the Astor Neighborhood as "a 23-mile jaunt from Door County." All PG photos in this post.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100116024

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-41-2.jpg http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-42-2.jpg http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-38-5.jpg

Green Bay Native

January 23rd, 2010, 05:26 PM

Highway 172 eastbound reconstruction from 41 to Webster Avenue to start Feb. 1. Lane limitations. Some major ramps will be closed for six months. Oneida Street under the freeway to be closed off beginning in March. Sounds like Ashland Avenue by the freeway may be closed too(?) beginning around May. Major work done by Aug. 1. P.S. 41 reconstruction to start in September at the Scheuring Road interchange in De Pere.

More news (buried) in the same article. In what must be a project separate from 172, a roundabout will be constructed on Ashland Avenue at Ninth Street in Green Bay beginning in May. Horrors! The first roundabout actually to be located in the city, I believe. First I heard of this. Looks like the city, understandably, is keeping a low profile on this. Last year we talked on this board about the possibility of the city using stimulus money to reconstruct Ashland from the viaduct southward to Lombardi (as I remember the conversation). I wonder if this roundabout construction is connected with some eventual larger redo of Ashland Avenue in the city at its south entrance.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100122/GPG0101/1220552/1978/Roadwork-to-begin-on-Highway-172

Two points.

For Ashland under 172: That is unlikely to close as this bridge will remain in place. Oneida Street will close as they are replacing that bridge in order to widen Oneida Street and that also requires a repositioning of the bridge piers for the new bridge.

For that roundabout. The article unfortunately omitted the part that it is for Ashland and 9th Street byDe Pere and not Green Bay. This is in the spur connector to/from US 41 south. Not sure why they picked "9th Street as the official name as the roundabout will also connect Glory Road and the more travelled 8th Street/WIS 32 with this. This is stated at the bottom half of this article: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091228/GPG0101/912280544/Update--De-Pere-woman-killed-in-Ashland-Avenue-crash-identified-as-Jacqueline-Roseberry

Tower Park

January 23rd, 2010, 10:54 PM

Two points.

For Ashland under 172: That is unlikely to close as this bridge will remain in place. Oneida Street will close as they are replacing that bridge in order to widen Oneida Street and that also requires a repositioning of the bridge piers for the new bridge.

For that roundabout. The article unfortunately omitted the part that it is for Ashland and 9th Street by De Pere and not Green Bay. This is in the spur connector to/from US 41 south. Not sure why they picked 9th Street as the official name as the roundabout will also connect Glory Road and the more travelled 8th Street/WIS 32 with this. This is stated at the bottom half of this article: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091228/GPG0101/912280544/Update--De-Pere-woman-killed-in-Ashland-Avenue-crash-identified-as-Jacqueline-Roseberry

Thanks for the correction! I forgot there's also a Ninth St. at Ashland in De Pere. The roundabout seems a separate project from the 172 construction; the article was a bit confusing.

Green Bay Sponge

January 25th, 2010, 07:52 AM

Oh, and I'm typically not a fair weather fan, but I am in New Orleans, so 'Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?'

Lets hope either they or Dallas can hand it to the Viqueens.

The Saints won! The Saints get to go to the Superbowl!

GEAUX SAINTS GEAUX!

Jschmuck

January 27th, 2010, 01:31 AM

Puant

January 27th, 2010, 03:26 AM

^^Well that sounds good. Thanks for sharing that.

I've been rather quiet here lately but I'm still reading, so keep it coming!

MediaDoggie

January 27th, 2010, 02:28 PM

Night Rider

January 27th, 2010, 10:18 PM

BIG PRINT GIFFETH: More Money Secured for Downtown Watermark Project

Little Print- Taketh away: And that financing may be coming through.

have hope securing that financing soon," Lord said.

the project is still a little more than a million dollars short.

You've been hearing it for years. It's not real until the workers are on site and cranes are running.

The news story really wasn't worth anything. We've heard him say the same thing so many time about so many projects. I wish the mayor would just keep his mouth shut until the work crew is pulling up to break ground. One can cry wolf only so many times.

jerkylips999

January 27th, 2010, 10:59 PM

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100127/GPG03/100127104

Tower Park

January 27th, 2010, 11:49 PM

The Watermark, a downtown Green Bay development project, is another step closer to becoming reality.

For years plans have been in the works to turn the former Younkers Department Store site along the Fox River into a combination children's museum, retail, restaurant, and residential property. It's yet another component of the plans to redevelop the city's waterfront property.

"It would be the first privately-owned parking structure for downtown. It's the first large scale adaptive reuse project in the city of Green Bay as well as the first real mixed-use development," Derek Lord, economic development director for the city, said.

the rest here http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=11884105

The WBAY story is not any different than what was posted here in post #4764. Having said that, the parties do seem closer to completing financing for the project.

Continental to resume flights in May from Green Bay to the airline's hub in Cleveland.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100127/GPG03/100127104/1247/Continental-Airlines-service-returning-to-Green-Bay-in-May-

President Obama tomorrow to announce spending $8 billion in stimulus funds for high-speed rail projects. My guess is that will include Milwaukee-Madison Amtrak service.

P.S. Oops. I see jerky beat me on the airlines story.

MattGiguere

January 27th, 2010, 11:55 PM

Ripped from the headlines (Kavarna's Twitter page):

"Build Out Update: Windows installed. Stairs & Railings currently being fabricated off site. Progress is steady and good. All's well."

There's some progress we can actually believe in.

Geography Teacher

January 28th, 2010, 05:54 PM

Night Rider

January 28th, 2010, 09:45 PM

I think it's awesome for that part of the state, and I think it's really awesome that two 14-car train sets will be built right here in Wisconsin.

Someday, the headline will read, "Wisconsin lands $1 billion high-speed rail for the Fox Valley," and there will be joy in Titletown.

I sure hope they did enough research on this. We don't need our governor playing with his toy trains. Then years down the road try to subsidize something that wasn't needed in the first place. At a time when deficits are skyrocketing & budget cuts are coming, this is quite the expenditure. I hope it works.

mgk920

January 28th, 2010, 10:43 PM

Here's the Journal-Sentinel's story on the Madison-Milwaukee high-speed rail funding: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/82864412.html

I think it's awesome for that part of the state, and I think it's really awesome that two 14-car train sets will be built right here in Wisconsin.

Someday, the headline will read, "Wisconsin lands $1 billion high-speed rail for the Fox Valley," and there will be joy in Titletown.
It shouldn't take $1G to do the Fox Valley line, CN's track is in far better shape than CP's (ex MILW) Watertown-Madison branch.

That and the fact that all of the station stops will be right in the centers of their markets (UNLIKE the planned MSN terminal), in or very near the downtown areas in all of the cities along the way, tells me that the Fox Valley line should be developed first.

Oh well....

Mike

Tower Park

January 28th, 2010, 11:40 PM

FiveSix was not put up for sale at auction yesterday because owner Nick Barnett might have buyers.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100128/GPG03/1280603/1247/FiveSix-Ultra-Lounge-not-put-up-for-auction

Also, at the Olde Main Street annual meeting yesterday, they talked about linking up the planned East River Trail with the Fox River Trail.

www.wfrv.com/news/local/story/Olde-Main-Street-announces-plans-for-East-River/FHluY4mahU2J8pa_OJGnSw.cspx

Puant

January 29th, 2010, 04:50 AM

It shouldn't take $1G to do the Fox Valley line, CN's track is in far better shape than CP's (ex MILW) Watertown-Madison branch.

That and the fact that all of the station stops will be right in the centers of their markets (UNLIKE the planned MSN terminal), in or very near the downtown areas in all of the cities along the way, tells me that the Fox Valley line should be developed first.

Oh well....

Mike

I agree with you again Mike.

And not to mention that the Green Bay / Fox Valley passenger line was always profitable, not relying on any subsidy (or so I heard from a reliable source)

sr22ger

January 29th, 2010, 06:55 AM

Also, at the Olde Main Street annual meeting yesterday, they talked about linking up the planned East River Trail with the Fox River Trail.

www.wfrv.com/news/local/story/Olde-Main-Street-announces-plans-for-East-River/FHluY4mahU2J8pa_OJGnSw.cspx

That extension just seems natural considering the current trails wraps around the Integrys property, unnaturally crosses the street and ends behind Strue's pharmacy. I'd like to see more details on that.

The east river from it's mouth upstream to Jackson St is a very under utilized. This could be a catalyst for some worthy development.

Navarino Rezdnt

January 29th, 2010, 02:04 PM

That extension just seems natural considering the current trails wraps around the Integrys property, unnaturally crosses the street and ends behind Strue's pharmacy. I'd like to see more details on that.

The east river from it's mouth upstream to Jackson St is a very under utilized. This could be a catalyst for some worthy development.

I'll have more info about this in a few weeks. There's going to be a Powerpoint presentation given to our neighborhood association at the February 8th meeting. I'm going to see if I can get a copy of the presentation to post to our website.

What I've heard about the plan is to connect to the FRT at the N. Monroe bridge and complete the link at the Cora Vanderperren leg of the ERT behind East High School. I had heard that the trail cannot go under the bridge on N. Monroe because it is too low, that means possibly a pedestrian activated crosswalk like the one put up last summer at Mason and Hartung streets.

Where the trail stops east of Strue's at Quincy St., it would be extended to go behind the BelGioioso Cheese warehouse on Cedar St. I had also heard that when BelGioioso bought that warehouse there was a stipulation that the city got the right of way for a strip of land along the river behind it. Now BelGioioso is backing out on that deal so that means going east down cedar street to where there will be a bridge crossing to Cedar on the other side. Then it's south on St George to another bridge crossing of the river. It will travel east along the river through the backyards of the houses on St Claire St. to Baird St. connecting with the Cora Vanderperren portion.

I'll let you know about the presentation after Feb. 8th.

What do you guys think about getting U-Haul to move out to the 'burbs and redeveloping that block into niche retail and restaurants. Maybe an art gallery.

GBSurveyor

January 29th, 2010, 04:26 PM

It will travel east along the river through the backyards of the houses on St Claire St. to Baird St. connecting with the Cora Vanderperren portion.

That sounds like a battle.

What do you guys think about getting U-Haul to move out to the 'burbs and redeveloping that block into niche retail and restaurants. Maybe an art gallery.AMEN! that place is an eyesore, It really wouldn't need to move out to the burbs, just doesn't really need to be on a block that has that much visibility. I think that it would also be nice if the Greyhound Station could be relocated to the transit center on University Ave. It just seems to make it a better fit, and we could be cleaning up that part of Main St.

Also noticed that the Krock center is set to break ground this April. Will be nice for us eastsiders...

Tower Park

January 29th, 2010, 08:47 PM

Photo by H. Marc Larson of the Press-Gazette shows Lombardi Ave. looking east toward the Georgia-Pacific Broadway Mill. Green Bay's still a mill town.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-39-7.jpg

Tower Park

January 29th, 2010, 09:05 PM

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-38-6.jpg

Construction on the $23 million Kroc Center starts in April. Looks like the exterior design, at least, has changed from original plans.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100129/GPG0101/1290587/1978/Kroc-center-construction-to-begin-April-29

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/7878794c-0bcb-11df-88e3-001cc4c002e.jpg

The following is from the Press-Gazette's coverage of the high-speed rail announcement. It quotes the president of NEWRails as saying that WisDOT is looking at having high-speed passenger rail (110 mph) from Green Bay to Milwaukee by 2019, six years after the Madison-to-Milwaukee line is set to open. But NEWRails is advocating for a smaller speed initially (80 mph) so service here, it says, could start sooner.

"A high-speed rail line between Milwaukee and Madison will help transportation in the state move into the 21st century, said Paul Linzmeyer, president of the citizens group NEWRails, a group dedicated to renewing passenger rail service after an absence of nearly four decades.

'The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is already committed to delivering passenger rail into the Fox Valley by 2019, but having rail operating in the Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago triangle by 2013 may put the Fox Valley at a disadvantage for six years,' Linzmeyer said in a news release.

Developing the corridor between Milwaukee and Green Bay is part of Wisconsin's long-term high-speed rail plan, but none of these funds will be used for that.

The group thinks existing rail network can be used to run passenger trains into Milwaukee from Green Bay and be up and running before 2013. Service can start at 80 mph and be upgraded afterward. Rail service in the region will help economic development, the group said."

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100129/GPG0101/1290585/1978/Obama-announces-832M-for-rail-plan

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/TrainDepot6.jpg

Speaking of rails and trails, the photo above from roughly a century or so ago shows what's now the Fox River Trail area just south of the former Milwaukee Road depot on S. Washington St. It was a railroad freight yard with overhead cranes. As everyone probably knows, Green Bay historically had three railroads: the Chicago & North Western, the Green Bay & Western, and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (the Milwaukee Road).

What do you guys think about getting U-Haul to move out to the 'burbs and redeveloping that block into niche retail and restaurants. Maybe an art gallery.

I'm glad U-Haul is there, rather than having more vacant land downtown. But certainly, seems to me, that's not even close to an ideal use for the property.

Kramerica

January 29th, 2010, 10:15 PM

The following is from the Press-Gazette's coverage of the high-speed rail announcement. It quotes the president of NEWRails as saying that WisDOT is looking at having high-speed passenger rail (110 mph) from Green Bay to Milwaukee by 2019, six years after the Madison-to-Milwaukee line is set to open. But NEWRails is advocating for a smaller speed initially (80 mph) so service here, it says, could start sooner.

'The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is already committed to delivering passenger rail into the Fox Valley by 2019, but having rail operating in the Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago triangle by 2013 may put the Fox Valley at a disadvantage for six years,' Linzmeyer said in a news release.

Green Bay will be LUCKY if it has passenger rail service by 2019. Heck, we'll be lucky if we have a 110 mph train from MKE to MSP by 2019. The official "plan" is 2016 for that and 2019 for GRB. That's an admirable goal, but in between politics, potential environmental/engineering/construction hurdles, and especially funding, there is ZERO chance either of those goals are met. Look at articles from five years ago and you'll see that the Madison HSR should already be running. I'm not convinced the Madison line will be running in early 2013 like they say. If Walker is elected governor, he could halt construction. Just because we have a federal grant doesn't mean we have to spend it.

I suppose NEWRails job is to push for better timelines and better service, but to complain about an extremely optimistic 2019 date is a little kooku.

Did anyone up here notice the fine print about the Madison line: It will only be 79 mph when it opens in 2013, and will be 110 mph in 2016 "when the line is extended to St. Paul." So we'll see just how slow this project progresses.

gbmphillips

January 30th, 2010, 12:07 AM

I'm glad U-Haul is there, rather than having more vacant land downtown. But certainly, seems to me, that's not even close to an ideal use for the property.

Seems to me instead of people complaing about an actual business downtown they should be happy they are there. After all the track reacord of bring business to this downtown in recent years by the city and associations is laugahable and embrassing.

sr22ger

January 30th, 2010, 01:09 AM

A quick hit from Mr. Mirke's downtown green bay update email:

Featured Prime Business Space Downtown-
-Meyer Theatre Professional Building, proposed office/restaurant/retail building- corner of Walnut & Washington St. Leases or sales from 1,000 to 6,000 square feet. Great location next to Green Bay's historic and impressive Meyer Theatre. Contact Jamie Blom for concepts and floor plans- 920-609-4308.

Tower Park

January 30th, 2010, 02:19 AM

Green Bay will be LUCKY if it has passenger rail service by 2019. Heck, we'll be lucky if we have a 110 mph train from MKE to MSP by 2019. The official "plan" is 2016 for that and 2019 for GRB. That's an admirable goal, but in between politics, potential environmental/engineering/construction hurdles, and especially funding, there is ZERO chance either of those goals are met. Look at articles from five years ago and you'll see that the Madison HSR should already be running. I'm not convinced the Madison line will be running in early 2013 like they say. If Walker is elected governor, he could halt construction. Just because we have a federal grant doesn't mean we have to spend it.

I suppose NEWRails job is to push for better timelines and better service, but to complain about an extremely optimistic 2019 date is a little kooku.

Did anyone up here notice the fine print about the Madison line: It will only be 79 mph when it opens in 2013, and will be 110 mph in 2016 "when the line is extended to St. Paul." So we'll see just how slow this project progresses.

My intent with this post is not to restart any inappropriate political discussion on this board. But it seems to me that any future governor of Wisconsin, regardless of party, or any future Legislature or legislative committee turns down $823 million in federal stimulus money for the state at his or her or its own peril. In fact, I think all political hell would break lose. Priority No. 1 with the American people right now is jobs, jobs, jobs — which is what an infrastructure project like construction of a Milwaukee-Madison passenger rail line would provide, short and long term. Anything can happen in politics, but I'd be surprised if construction on the Madison line didn't get under way. And, in conjunction with the route expansion, the state has committed to purchasing at least two 14-car train sets that would be built in Wisconsin.

Longer term, who knows? As the economy recovers (hopefully we'll be spared any double-dip recession), the federal government will be pivoting from recessionary spending to deficit reduction. That and any future changes in partisan political control in Washington might well depress additional passenger-rail expansion. By the way, don't be too hard on NEWRails. It's a new group, still getting its feet wet, trying to be an advocate for passenger rail here. It's a good group and a welcome sight.

P.S. As I'm sure you know, there's a debate in Madison on where the new passenger-rail line coming into the city should terminate: the Dane County Regional Airport (plan A) or downtown or train stations at both locations. Or perhaps light rail connecting the airport with the Capitol.

Seems to me instead of people complaing about an actual business downtown they should be happy they are there. After all the track reacord of bring business to this downtown in recent years by the city and associations is laugahable and embrassing.

I'm not complaining. It's a good business. I'm just saying if something better-suited for a location on Main Street downtown ever came along, and U-Haul agreed, go for it.

Puant

January 30th, 2010, 02:47 AM

gbmphillips

January 30th, 2010, 06:41 AM

It's funny to me to think that here we are in 2010 with all the technical and mechanical savvy to build all sorts of engineering marvels, yet we think it's ludicrous to put a passenger train on 30 miles on existing track in less than 10 years!!

In 1860...18freakin60....they managed to build the first transcontinental railroad, laying brand new track 10 miles PER DAY across rough terrain.

What's the matter with us? .
We now have to deal with over governemnt regulations, the whacked out enviromentalist, and on and on.

araman0

January 30th, 2010, 07:09 AM

Regarding the legitimacy of rail service from Milwaukee to MSN airport - I think this portion is getting the highest priority right now simply because it's part of the Chicago - Minneapolis line. Madison simply benefits from being in the middle of it all.

It would be sweet to imagine rail going from Milwaukee through downtown Appleton and Green Bay by 2020 though...

Puant

January 30th, 2010, 07:10 AM

We now have to deal with over governemnt regulations, the whacked out enviromentalist, and on and on.

The biggest challenge by far will be the people who will block the trains because cars are currently the status quo.

Most people have no problem putting a billion dollars into a 30-mile freeway, but propose spending a fraction of that on trains...and all holy hell will break loose.

Night Rider

January 30th, 2010, 07:49 PM

The biggest challenge by far will be the people who will block the trains because cars are currently the status quo.

Most people have no problem putting a billion dollars into a 30-mile freeway, but propose spending a fraction of that on trains...and all holy hell will break loose.

We have the exact same discussion every 6 months or so. For the most part the people that use the roads pay for the work via a gas tax. Will the same be said about the improvements to the rail, of course not. The billion being spent on the 30 mile stretch will be used by so many more people then a billion dollars being spent on rail, it's not really comparable. "holy hell" brakes loose when people think there money is being wasted, which is pretty common lately. I'm not against trains, I just don't know how far we can stretch the money we got without blowing our future generations out of the water. Will the people in Marinette demand rail for another billion? Then da yoopers will want in....that's another billion. At some point it's not feasible. The line to Green Bay may just be "not feasible". Just my personal opinion of course, I have no facts to back it up, if it's feasible or not. If it does get built, I'll be one of the 1st trying it out.

Puant

January 31st, 2010, 12:37 AM

Right. Sorry to rehash that.

So, aaaah...a few other topics starting to pop up in recent days, though obviously a lot of our regular posters have been very quiet lately.

You all still there?

Navarino Rezdnt

January 31st, 2010, 01:12 AM

That sounds like a battle.

In the image below I put in a boardwalk where I had heard there would be one because lot lines in the 1,200 block of St Clair go right to the river. East of that between Irwin and Baird is city owned land. The properties along Baird St marked with an X the city now controls I heard and they'll be razed.

http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww359/GB-Pix/EastRiverTrail010.jpg

Tower Park

February 2nd, 2010, 12:35 AM

I'll have more info about this in a few weeks. There's going to be a Powerpoint presentation given to our neighborhood association at the February 8th meeting. I'm going to see if I can get a copy of the presentation to post to our website.

Nice map above of part of the East River Trail being contemplated. I was wondering how the trail might function in the area where N. Irwin ends at the river. Sounds like the Feb. 8th presentation should be interesting.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/images-5.jpg

By the way, the State Patrol is looking at the possibility of relocating its Northeast Wisconsin district headquarters from Fond du Lac to some place farther north. The district runs from Fond du Lac County to the Michigan border (see map above). Given there would seem to be many reasons why it should be here, I hope local government, political and commerce officials are working hard on trying to get the district headquarters located in Green Bay or Brown County. (Green Bay geographically is located right in the middle of the district's coverage area.) WisDOT has a regional headquarters in Ashwaubenon. Is there land next door or near it where a district State Patrol office could be located? Would seem to make sense to have the two facilities side by side.

GBguy

February 2nd, 2010, 08:45 PM

Navarino Rezdnt

February 2nd, 2010, 09:27 PM

So, what do you guys think about this coaster in GB?

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/local/bay-beach-could-get-elvis-favorite-coaster

About the coaster on Wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zippin_Pippin

Take a ride on the Zippin Pippen via Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz_cTZxTw20

Welcome GBguy.

Thanks for posting that info. That coaster would be great for Bay Beach. Nothing more nostalgic for a 100 year old amusement park than a 100 year old wooden roller coaster.

I hope the city can work out a deal to get it and make the necessary upgrades to meet building codes.

Morse

February 3rd, 2010, 01:49 AM

Welcome GBguy.

Thanks for posting that info. That coaster would be great for Bay Beach. Nothing more nostalgic for a 100 year old amusement park than a 100 year old wooden roller coaster.

I hope the city can work out a deal to get it and make the necessary upgrades to meet building codes.

Thanks GBguy! That roller coaster looks fun and would really seem to fit what they are trying to do at Bay Beach.

It looks like Meyer Theatre Board of Directors gave whoever the developer is for the Dailey Planet Building a deadline of April 15 to bring forth plans and tenants. Does anyone know more about this or the likelihood of this project happening?

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=11922348

Jesse276

February 3rd, 2010, 05:45 AM

We now have to deal with over governemnt regulations, the whacked out enviromentalist, and on and on.

Don't forget the tea baggers, conspiracy wingnuts, and the lobbyists.

titletown

February 3rd, 2010, 05:52 AM

Talk about history if Bay Beach gets this rollercoaster. You have a rollercoaster that Elvis once rode on in a historic park where FDR once gave a speech in front of 100,000 on Nicolet's 300 anniversary of landing. If my memory serves me right, I thought JFK campaigned there as well. Oh not to forget Al Gore too. :lol:

Recently I went to San Antonio, TX. I loved the Riverwalk (they are expanding the RiverWalk to 13 miles now!). I would love to see the East River developed.

Navarino Rezdnt

February 3rd, 2010, 11:47 AM

Recently I went to San Antonio, TX. I loved the Riverwalk (they are expanding the RiverWalk to 13 miles now!). I would love to see the East River developed.

I want to go back to San Antonio. When I was 12yo I went on camping vacation with my friend and his family to Mexico. On the way down there we stopped in San Antonio to see the Alamo and after that my friend's dad wanted to go downtown to see the Riverwalk. I remember there being a nightclub or something that was closed because it was Sunday afternoon. Now, on Friday nights, I listen to the radio show "Riverwalk Jazz: Live from The Landing" in downtown San Antonio. I'd love to go to a live broadcast and see if maybe I'll recognize it as being the place I was when I was 12.

I agree with you titletown about development along the East River. Where the river runs through Bellevue by Krueger International seems to have the most potential for new development. Below is the portion of the river that runs from N. Webster to Main St. You can see why the trail will run down Cedar St. There is no bank to put a trail so it would have to be all boardwalk between those two points. Way too much expense for something like that.

http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww359/GB-Pix/EastRiver-Webster2Main-1.jpg

gbmphillips

February 3rd, 2010, 07:52 PM

Don't forget the tea baggers, conspiracy wingnuts, and the lobbyists.

No I think I will stay mostly with environmental whackjobs for the destruction of the country.

Tower Park

February 3rd, 2010, 11:53 PM

eddyout

February 4th, 2010, 02:38 PM

yeah i know, it's just terrible how environmentalists are always wrecking things!

That roller coaster would be AWESOME!!

Anyway, I ran across this the other day and thought some of you may be interested:

Opening day may be several months away, but in southern Florida one team has already started to compile some attention-grabbing stats. Forget homeruns and strikeouts -- right now the Florida Marlins are focused on racking up LEED certification points. (http://www.miamiherald.com/591/story/1434500.html)

In the construction of their new park, set to debut in 2012, the franchise is demonstrating a high level of environmental consciousness by employing a wide range of green building practices. Among the innovations to be featured at the new park are a heat-reflecting white roof, low-emission products to maintain air quality and large glass panels for increased natural lighting. In addition, project managers have committed to use locally-produced building materials and recycle virtually all waste.

If the Florida Marlins achieve their goal of LEED Silver certification they will join the ranks of the Washington Nationals (http://nationals.mlb.com/was/ballpark/facts_figures.jsp), currently the only other Major League team to have earned this distinction.

Bay2Bay

February 5th, 2010, 05:08 AM

Jschmuck

February 5th, 2010, 05:31 AM

1,000 percent for the rollercoaster!

Jesse276

February 5th, 2010, 04:54 PM

No I think I will stay mostly with environmental whackjobs for the destruction of the country.

Well, don't let reality get in the way of stubborn, the facts always lose.

jerkylips999

February 5th, 2010, 06:25 PM

Frontier Airlines to start seasonal Green Bay-Denver flights in April

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100204/GPG03/302050077

By Nathan Phelps • nphelps@greenbaypressgazette.com • February 4, 2010

Frontier Airlines will offer nonstop seasonal service between Green Bay and Denver beginning in April. The airline will run three flights a week from April 19 to Oct. 22.

Fares for the new service will be available starting Feb. 14, Frontier said in a press release today, a week after Continental Airlines announced it would resume daily non-stop service between Green Bay and Cleveland on May 2.

“It offers folks traveling to or from the west a new hub to work through to get to Green Bay,” said Austin Straubel International Airport Director Tom Miller in a press release. “(Travelers) will now be able to catch a flight, get out of the Midwest and get to Colorado and fan out to whatever their ultimate destination is.”

Frontier intends to offer this service beyond 2010, Miller said. It will be on a 99-seat Embraer 190 aircraft.

Frontier is a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings Inc., the same organization that owns Midwest Airlines, and check-in will be at the Midwest desk, according to the airport.

“This is a very exciting day for Frontier Airlines,” Daniel Shurz, Frontier’s vice president of planning and strategy said in a statement released this afternoon. “With the delivery of three new Airbus A320s and additional E190s this spring, we are able to expand our service to new and underserved markets out of Denver.”

Flights will depart Denver at 10:40 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, arriving in Green Bay at 1:51 p.m.

Return flights will depart Green Bay at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Denver at 3:59 p.m.

This is awesome news! As someone who travels a lot for work, it's always a challenge going west if you're not going into a major airport like LAX or SFO. Last year I had to go to Santa Barbara several times, and had to do the GRB-MSP, MSP-SLC, SLC-SBA. It literally took almost 12 hours to get there. Denver is a great airport for access to western cities, so this is huge. Also, I think JetBlue is pretty prevalent in Denver, so it may open up some opportunities on that front. I'm really happy about this, if you couldn't tell...

Tower Park

February 5th, 2010, 07:23 PM

Frontier Airlines to start seasonal Green Bay-Denver flights in April

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100204/GPG03/302050077

By Nathan Phelps • nphelps@greenbaypressgazette.com • February 4, 2010

Frontier Airlines will offer nonstop seasonal service between Green Bay and Denver beginning in April. The airline will run three flights a week from April 19 to Oct. 22.

That's good news. Not sure why the service is being set up as seasonal. Perhaps that's when the demand out of Green Bay west is greatest, or the market here is being tested with the option of continuing flights year-round if successful, or that's when Frontier can spare the planes. Or something else. At any rate, good for Austin Straubel!

Appleton is exploring the possibility of building a convention center downtown, possibly next to the Radisson.

www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102050537

The Grand has closed again, temporarily it seems, over the management dispute.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100205/GPG03/2050535/1247/The-Grand-closes-after-management-pulls-out

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-38-7.jpg http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/231E0E43-012B-4E51-9881-9339EB9D383.jpg

Construction (residential for now) has started on the big Centennial Centre commercial/residential project along Highway 29 in Hobart. This is designed eventually to be Hobart's "downtown" area.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102030617

It looks like Meyer Theatre Board of Directors gave whoever the developer is for the Dailey Planet Building a deadline of April 15 to bring forth plans and tenants. Does anyone know more about this or the likelihood of this project happening?

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=11922348

I'm not in the know. But have not seen or heard anything (yet) on any April 15 deadline other than what you posted.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/banner_home2.jpg City of Green Bay Photo

Among items on the Redevelopment Authority agenda for February 9:

4. Review and approval of contract with Vierbicher Associates, Inc. for the Military Avenue Market Strategy and Design Plan.

Recommendation: Approve contract with Vierbicher Associates, Inc. for the Military Avenue Market Strategy and Design Plan.

6. Presentation by Titletown Entertainment Inc. regarding the proposed multi-use sports and entertainment facility at the Greenfield site and request for a six-month extension of the Planning Option.

Recommendation: To be presented at meeting.

7. Update on WaterMark redevelopment project.

Tower Park

February 5th, 2010, 08:31 PM

MilwaukeeMax

February 5th, 2010, 09:07 PM

Just picked up this bulletin from the Wisconsin Public Radio website:

The German airline Lufthansa will announce Monday direct flights from Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport to the Flughafen Frankfurt am Main airport in Frankfurt beginning June 8th.

Daily flights will depart Green Bay at 10:13 a.m. and arrive in Frankfurt nine hours later. Boeing 747s will be used.

Austin Straubel Director Tom Miller said Lufthansa is the first of an expected three international airlines to begin direct service from Green Bay this year. Flights to Brussels and Warsaw are also anticipated, via the Belgian airline Sabena and the Polish airline Lot.

"They'll all be using 747s," said Miller. "So we'll need more apron and runway space. We're looking at expanding into the casino area and rerouting 172."

more to follow

that sounds like an april fool's joke.... or incredibly wishful thinking.

why on earth would Lufthansa fly into Green Bay and not Milwaukee?

Green Bay Native

February 6th, 2010, 12:47 AM

MilwaukeeMax

February 6th, 2010, 01:14 AM

^^

This is another "onion" post.

Making light of the face that Green Bay's airport is called an international airport although all flights are domestic.

Transcontinental flights are only at major hubs (something Green Bay is far from doing) and the frequency of Lufthansia flights to Frankfurt from Chicago is less than daily.

And the date sets it off too. Any runway expansions take a long time to plan, design and get FAA approval. No way that plus actual construction can take place in that short of time.

I was going to say... it sounded absurdly made-up. Still, I have a friend who works for NWA/Delta corporate and she says they're talking about a direct flight from Mitchell International to Amsterdam after the International Terminal is moved to the main building. That would give Wisconsin at least one trans-Atlantic flight.

Morse

February 6th, 2010, 04:59 AM

That's good news. Not sure why the service is being set up as seasonal. Perhaps that's when the demand out of Green Bay west is greatest, or the market here is being tested with the option of continuing flights year-round if successful, or that's when Frontier can spare the planes. Or something else. At any rate, good for Austin Straubel!

Appleton is exploring the possibility of building a convention center downtown, possibly next to the Radisson.

www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102050537

The Grand has closed again, temporarily it seems, over the management dispute.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100205/GPG03/2050535/1247/The-Grand-closes-after-management-pulls-out

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-38-7.jpg http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/231E0E43-012B-4E51-9881-9339EB9D383.jpg

Construction (residential for now) has started on the big Centennial Centre commercial/residential project along Highway 29 in Hobart. This is designed eventually to be Hobart's "downtown" area.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102030617

I'm not in the know. But have not seen or heard anything (yet) on any April 15 deadline other than what you posted.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/banner_home2.jpg City of Green Bay Photo

Among items on the Redevelopment Authority agenda for February 9:

4. Review and approval of contract with Vierbicher Associates, Inc. for the Military Avenue Market Strategy and Design Plan.

Recommendation: Approve contract with Vierbicher Associates, Inc. for the Military Avenue Market Strategy and Design Plan.

6. Presentation by Titletown Entertainment Inc. regarding the proposed multi-use sports and entertainment facility at the Greenfield site and request for a six-month extension of the Planning Option.

Recommendation: To be presented at meeting.

7. Update on WaterMark redevelopment project.

As far as the planning option extension goes, I would assume that the good news is that they are still working hard at making this a reality but the bad news is that this ball park probably won't break ground this spring. Has anyone heard how their work in securing financing is going?

Bay2Bay

February 6th, 2010, 05:56 AM

that sounds like an april fool's joke.... or incredibly wishful thinking.

why on earth would Lufthansa fly into Green Bay and not Milwaukee?

Crazier things have happened. Green Bay has an NFL team and Milwaukee doesn't! :banana:

MilwaukeeMax

February 6th, 2010, 07:15 AM

Crazier things have happened. Green Bay has an NFL team and Milwaukee doesn't! :banana:

Ahhh...that's what you think. For all intents and purposes, the Packers are Milwaukee's NFL team. The team only remains in Green Bay because of the revered tradition..The truth is the Packers could never survive without Milwaukee.

Bay2Bay

February 6th, 2010, 07:34 AM

^^
I guess that's why they are called the Milwaukee Packers! LOL

All joking aside, Green Bay and the Packers are happy to have the support of Milwaukee, Madison, and the rest of the great state of Wisconsin & U.P. -- not to mention their national and international fans that show them great support as well!

jerkylips999

February 6th, 2010, 08:20 AM

Ahhh...that's what you think. For all intents and purposes, the Packers are Milwaukee's NFL team. The team only remains in Green Bay because of the revered tradition..The truth is the Packers could never survive without Milwaukee.

With all due respect, I think you're wrong on this. The Packers have something like 50,000 people on a waiting list for tickets, so I think they'd do OK without MKE. And I read recently that they are something like the #5 most popular professional sports franchise (all sports, not just football) in the country.

Now....if we run into problems with the CBA & the NFL goes into an extended uncapped period, the Packers WILL be in trouble. Right now they make enough on merchandise & stuff that they are actually in that group that "gives money away" in the revenue sharing agreements, but if owners are allowed to spend whatever they want (Jerry Jones, Al Davis, etc.) then we will be at a huge disadvantage because of the market.

I just can't see that (long uncapped period) happening, though. The NFL has done things the right way & avoided many of the problems that MLB has had - it's almost 100% due to the salary cap. It'd be insane to get rid of it. The ironic thing is that for the most part, players want the salary cap. The idea of unproven rookies coming in & making more than a 5 year vet is tough to swallow.....for the 5 year vets. I really believe that the NFLPA is largely to blame for the lack of progress.

BUT...

This isn't a football thread, this is a development thread. So...how about that downtown? Pretty....cool....hey?

GBSurveyor

February 6th, 2010, 03:07 PM

So...how about that downtown? Pretty....cool....hey?

If I was in a coma the last few years I wouldn't have missed too much of the building construction boom. I really am waiting for spring so I can get out there and spend some time on the deck.

GBSurveyor

February 6th, 2010, 04:55 PM

From the press gazette (http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100206/GPG0101/2060543/1207/gpg0101)-

Bay Beach generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in income each year through ticket and concession sales. If a third of park visitors rode the roller coaster at $1 a ticket, it would quickly pay off the purchase debt and increase the use of the park's other attractions, Schmitt said.

A buck a ride sounds like a cheap thrill. Just think how cool it could be if/when the shoreline of the bay gets cleaned up

mgk920

February 6th, 2010, 05:29 PM

With all due respect, I think you're wrong on this. The Packers have something like 50,000 people on a waiting list for tickets, so I think they'd do OK without MKE. And I read recently that they are something like the #5 most popular professional sports franchise (all sports, not just football) in the country.

Now....if we run into problems with the CBA & the NFL goes into an extended uncapped period, the Packers WILL be in trouble. Right now they make enough on merchandise & stuff that they are actually in that group that "gives money away" in the revenue sharing agreements, but if owners are allowed to spend whatever they want (Jerry Jones, Al Davis, etc.) then we will be at a huge disadvantage because of the market.

I just can't see that (long uncapped period) happening, though. The NFL has done things the right way & avoided many of the problems that MLB has had - it's almost 100% due to the salary cap. It'd be insane to get rid of it. The ironic thing is that for the most part, players want the salary cap. The idea of unproven rookies coming in & making more than a 5 year vet is tough to swallow.....for the 5 year vets. I really believe that the NFLPA is largely to blame for the lack of progress.

BUT...

This isn't a football thread, this is a development thread. So...how about that downtown? Pretty....cool....hey?
I think that one of the big reasons why the union wants the cap retained is that without the cap, there is also no minimum wage. The union kind of likes the 'any given Sunday' thing, too, with each team being on an approximately equal financial footing, making for a very interesting to follow and popular league.

AND, interestingly, under the current revenue sharing agreement, the Packers are a *DONOR* team (and the Vikings are a recipient).

Yes, there is a lot of chest beating going on, but that often happens when things really start to get going and I think it better than even that things will be worked out in time.

Mike

Puant

February 7th, 2010, 02:49 AM

From the press gazette (http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100206/GPG0101/2060543/1207/gpg0101)-

A buck a ride sounds like a cheap thrill. Just think how cool it could be if/when the shoreline of the bay gets cleaned up

Sounds great! Heck, if the roller coaster is as good as Elvis says it is, why not charge $2 per ride and make double the money? How long does the ride last, is it worth $2?

So here's another topic I'd like to get your perspective on. It's related to Bay Beach & development:

What do you think about using "Renard Isle" (aka "Kidney Island") as an expansion to the Bay Beach park? Do you think it's a good idea? Would you be concerned about walking on it knowing that there are PCBs underfoot (even if capped?) Personally I'd be much more concerned about eating fish out of the river or bay than I would just walking on this island.

I think Tower Park posted this before as a PDF, but just in case you missed it, I think this park expansion plan is pretty interesting:

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o52/Puant/BayBeachPlan.jpg

Navarino Rezdnt

February 7th, 2010, 04:37 AM

Sounds great! Heck, if the roller coaster is as good as Elvis says it is, why not charge $2 per ride and make double the money? How long does the ride last, is it worth $2?

So here's another topic I'd like to get your perspective on. It's related to Bay Beach & development:

What do you think about using "Renard Isle" (aka "Kidney Island") as an expansion to the Bay Beach park? Do you think it's a good idea? Would you be concerned about walking on it knowing that there are PCBs underfoot (even if capped?) Personally I'd be much more concerned about eating fish out of the river or bay than I would just walking on this island.

The coaster ride is worth $2 to me. It's cheap enough to make me want to ride it a whole bunch of times during a single visit to the park. It fits with the park's draw of rides being inexpensive enough to go on each one a couple times, eating popcorn/cotton candy and still having money left in your wallet.

As for Kidney Island, there's a proposed vehicular bridge to the west of the park. I think it should be an auto-free island without parking lots. I wonder, would there would still have to be a bridge for emergency vehicles? The PCB issue doesn't bother me a bit because I think that the link between PCBs and cancer has been hyped up by the Chicken Littles of the world. When they start giving numbers of all the people that died from PCBs I'll give it more thought.

eddyout

February 7th, 2010, 04:33 PM

Most of you have probably seen the pictures of when people used to swim at Bay BEACH. It must have been an awesome place. However, the door has pretty much been shut on the restoration of the swimmability of Bay BEACH because of the construction of Kidney Island. (This is due to all the detritus and seagull poop that has accumulated between the park and the island.) That island has got to be Green Bay's dumbest idea ever. Before it was built, many "whackjobs" tried to warn us of its folly and wanted to CONSERVE the natural beauty of the Bay. We should have listened to them. At one point, there was a plan to double the size of the island. At least THAT plan got shot down.

Today, the island is basically a toxic landfill that actually leaches some PCBs into the Bay and that gulls and terns use as a nesting site. The best thing to do would be to get rid of it. It seems kind of silly to turn it into a "playground", but it would not be the first time we have turned toxic landfills into playgrounds. It would actually be kind of cool as an island park with a walkway.

By the way Navarino... this is not really a "science" forum, but the links between cancer/birth defects/learning disabilities and PCBs are very well documented and more evidence is added each year. They are among the most dangerous synthetic chemicals for waterfowl, wildlife AND humans. If I had kids, I would not want any of them (especially as they were developing in the uterus) to be exposed to any PCBs. If you can find any independent science articles that say PCBs are harmless, please let me know.

GBSurveyor

February 8th, 2010, 05:59 AM

Navarino Rezdnt

February 8th, 2010, 08:22 PM

^^ funny- science forum, huh?

I always thought that the best science was "The solution to pollution is dilution"... has someone proved that wrong???

while we are at it, maybe we should also pray for a 500 year storm to help remove the remaining pcb's from the river and deposit them in the bay, thus saving all the money being wasted on dregging :ohno:

What are you people's thoughts on an unlimited ride braclet for Bay Beach????

At what cost would it pay?

A ride bracelet good for one day might be appealing to people that don't get the nostalgic feeling from buying the little stub tickets. If there's going to be a roller coaster the bracelet option makes more sense because I'd think the coaster's going to be the big draw for people and they'll want to ride it multiple times. But I don't think it makes sense for the small kiddie rides like the boats.

Many times when my daughter was young we'd stop at the park for a half hour to go on the scrambler, bumper cars or the swings to kill some time before we did something else. Going to a bracelet only option and getting rid of the stub tickets would hurt the park's attendance. It's too much like paying an entrance fee with a set minimum.

The ticket system works well if you've ever taken 3-5 kids to the beach. After setting up the picnic spot, head over to the ticket booth and buy a bunch of tickets, then dole out some of them to each kid and let 'em go. When they are out of tickets they come running back for more. It helps them burn off some steam so they're not hyper later in the evening. Plus it helps to keep track of where in the park they are.

Does anybody know, will the arcade games be cash-only like the ponies?

Tower Park

February 9th, 2010, 11:51 PM

In response to a Justice Department order, the Corps of Engineers says it doesn't plan to dredge the Fox River navigational channel for another seven years so as not to interfere with the PCB cleanup operation under way now and possibly spread PCBs further. That could effectively shut down the port. More discussions are planned.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100209/GPG0101/2090568/1978/Dredging-dispute-threatens-shipping-in-Green-Bay-harbor

So here's another topic I'd like to get your perspective on. It's related to Bay Beach & development:

What do you think about using "Renard Isle" (aka "Kidney Island") as an expansion to the Bay Beach park? Do you think it's a good idea? Would you be concerned about walking on it knowing that there are PCBs underfoot (even if capped?) Personally I'd be much more concerned about eating fish out of the river or bay than I would just walking on this island.

Green Bay wants to have a proposed temporary causeway connecting Renard Isle with Bay Beach built on the west side of the island instead of its east side. Says the causeway would interfere less with Bay Beach operations that way. The causeway would be used for trucks hauling fill to the island to cap the dredged sediments deposited there. The city is interested in eventually taking ownership of the island from the county.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100208/GPG0101/2080492/-1/archive

Ahhh...that's what you think. For all intents and purposes, the Packers are Milwaukee's NFL team. The team only remains in Green Bay because of the revered tradition..The truth is the Packers could never survive without Milwaukee.

Actually, I agree (at least in the past). If Milwaukee hadn't been there to support the Packers in times like the '30s and '40s, I'm not sure the team could have survived in Green Bay. All the other small-town teams in the NFL folded long ago. I think the Packers are big enough to make it on their own here today . . . but only, certainly, with things like revenue sharing and salary caps. Otherwise, we're toast, seems to me.

Not to get off-topic, but the head of the NFL players union says in his opinion there will not be an NFL season in 2011 because of what could be a lock-out between the players and the owners over a new collective-bargaining agreement. Maybe that's negotiating talk or maybe it'll happen. FYI, Sunday's Super Bowl had the highest audience of any program in the history of American TV, beating the 1983 finale of "M-A-S-H."

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100207/PKR01/100207044/1954/PKR03

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/imageaxd.jpghttp://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/hinkle_chicle_1935_crop_2_8ery.jpg

P.S. Here's the NBC telecast of the pregame introductions for the 1961 NFL championship game at City Stadium.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYVj-7Wfdeo

Also, complete with heroic music.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2PJfCl2gZk&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Green Bay 4 Life

February 10th, 2010, 12:23 AM

From WBAY.com

The Green Bay Bullfrogs are one step closer to having a new pad.

The team announced Tuesday it's secured a major portion of the $21 million needed to build a new stadium in downtown Green Bay.

WHEDA has agreed to lend $4.2 million to the project. That commitment covers 20 percent of the total project cost.

Some changes from the original plan were obvious at a meeting with Green Bay's Redevelopment Authority Tuesday, most notably a year-round, full-scale restaurant in left field.

That addition bumped up the price tag by about $5 million, but planners say it's an amenity that will create even more jobs while city leaders say it could create more interest.

"We estimate about 200 construction jobs being created because of this project; 15 jobs with the Bullfrogs, or Titletown Entertainment, Inc.; and then 85 jobs coming from this new restaurant operator," Jamie Blum of Smet Construction said.

"There's a lot of underdeveloped property in that area, and we could see more commercial developments and retail," Mayor Jim Schmitt said.

Project planners say their next step is to go to banks and private donors to try to secure the more than $16 million still needed.

They're optimistic to break ground this May.

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=11959340

MilwaukeeMax

February 10th, 2010, 12:24 AM

Why does the map say "Bay of Green Bay"?? is there really such a thing or is this a typo or someone being incredibly redundant? that would be like saying City of New York City

dumb.

Tower Park

February 10th, 2010, 01:52 AM

Operation New Pad: RDA Update
RDA unanimously approves extension at today's meeting!

Titletown Entertainment Foundation Inc a 501( c) 3 organization comprised of the Green Bay Bullfrogs and Smet Construction Services went before the RDA today at 1:30 p.m. to request the six month extension as detailed in their original 12 month planning option agreement entered into back in September of 2009 with the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Green Bay. The extension was approved unanimously.

“There have been some very positive things that have taken place over the last 6 months,” states Green Bay Bullfrogs President and Owner Jeff Royle. “I am very pleased with the interest in the project from a community support viewpoint. The business community is stepping up to the plate as well. Just this past week WHEDA has committed up to 20% of the project cost with an New Market Tax Credit Allocation. We are currently in negotiations on a 30,000 sq ft food and beverage establishment to go in the left field corner. Some ancillary users have expressed interest in using the proposed facility for outdoor football. Our group has identified at least 60 different events that could become part of this facility. As I promised from the start, this will truly be a community asset.”

Royle and his team, which consists of Smet, Pendulum Studios, Somerville Architects, Pinnacle Consulting Group, LLC and the City are beginning to see this project take shape. “Currently we have a survey of the stadium parcel taking place. The design team, Pendulum Studios, is working hard behind the scenes to make sure this is the right site schematically,” Royle adds. “Some very generous Bullfrog backers, Les and Lisa Van Horn offered to donate the survey work. Les and Lisa are both licensed surveyors and Les has extensive experience as he used to head up the surveying department for Brown County. Plus they are a host family. This was extremely generous of them and is going to be a great help to our project as we press toward our proposed May 2010 construction start.”

Smet Construction Services feels fortunate to be part of this project. “This project could help create more than 300 jobs, provided this development takes place,” states Jamie Blom, Business Development for Smet Construction Services. “ Of those 300 jobs, 100 jobs would be permanent employment after the multi-use sports and entertainment facility opens up. The food and beverage establishment could be responsible for up to 85 of those jobs in varying capacities from wait staff to upper management. Given the current economic climate, Smet Construction Services is proud to play a role in an opportunity to create new jobs for the City of Green Bay.”

The City is expressing optimism as well. Derek Lord, Director of Economic Developement for the City of Green Bay is pleased with the groups progress. “At this time they have addressed all of the items we have asked them too. It’s still a planning option agreement and we have some milestones to overcome, but I think if they keep working hard this project has merit. This is definitely a use that fits with the long term vision of our downtown and waterfront.”

Pinnacle Consulting Group, LLC has been instrumental in putting together a first draft pro forma to aid in the project. Mark Brandt, a CPA from the firm feels “based on the assumptions in this projection, this project has the potential to be very successful. We look forward to assisting the group in the next phase of this project and in their negotiations with various financing sources.” Even with WHEDA’s New Market Tax Credit allocation, the group still has to find a financing source for the balance of the project. Meetings are currently in process with local, regional, and national banks to see their interest in getting involved with this project. Titletown Entertainment Foundation Inc is working diligently to get a commitment in place to stay on schedule. The group is also seeking naming rights for the facility. The terms are negotiable, but are going to be in line with the recently announced Resch Center naming rights extension. “Thank goodness for business people like Dick Resch. They have certainly made sure that our community has amenities that set it apart from other communities in this state. The philanthropy in this area is truly amazing. Given this recent announcement I’m optimistic we might be able to secure a deal like that ourselves,” Royle adds.

“There is still some work to do before a shovel goes in the ground. Its going to take support from the entire community; citizens, community leaders, and the business community, but if all goes well hopefully we will be playing baseball at a downtown facility in 2011,” concludes Royle.

El Mariachi

February 10th, 2010, 01:59 AM

Just picked up this bulletin from the Wisconsin Public Radio website:

The German airline Lufthansa will announce Monday direct flights from Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport to the Flughafen Frankfurt am Main airport in Frankfurt beginning June 8th.

Daily flights will depart Green Bay at 10:13 a.m. and arrive in Frankfurt nine hours later. Boeing 747s will be used.

Austin Straubel Director Tom Miller said Lufthansa is the first of an expected three international airlines to begin direct service from Green Bay this year. Flights to Brussels and Warsaw are also anticipated, via the Belgian airline Sabena and the Polish airline Lot.

"They'll all be using 747s," said Miller. "So we'll need more apron and runway space. We're looking at expanding into the casino area and rerouting 172."

more to follow

I was going to say... it sounded absurdly made-up. Still, I have a friend who works for NWA/Delta corporate and she says they're talking about a direct flight from Mitchell International to Amsterdam after the International Terminal is moved to the main building. That would give Wisconsin at least one trans-Atlantic flight.

Damn. I got a bit excited about direct flights from Green Bay to Frankfurt, Warsaw, and Brussels.

Hopefully, we can get flights to Amsterdam from Milwaukee. That would be cool.

Danillo

February 10th, 2010, 02:17 AM

Very good news regarding the Bullfrogs. Hopefully the momentum will build from here. A spring start to construction seems really optimistic, but it would be great to see a game at the new ballpark in just 16 months or so.

El Mariachi

February 10th, 2010, 03:00 AM

Some of the renderings of this new stadium look really promising and ambitious. Almost like a smaller version of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati or PNC in Pittsburgh (minus the awesome skyline view). I would imagine this will be a pretty cool thing for boaters and people in the summertime.

mgk920

February 10th, 2010, 04:22 AM

Why does the map say "Bay of Green Bay"?? is there really such a thing or is this a typo or someone being incredibly redundant? that would be like saying City of New York City

dumb.
Well, the locals do say 'Bay of Green Bay', to differentiate it from the city.

Mike

Green Bay Sponge

February 10th, 2010, 04:58 AM

Green Bay's future looks bright. The roller coaster they picked out for Bay Beach looks nice, and like everyone else said, fits in with the park's historical element. And the Bullfrogs will also have a new stadium. New piers are being constructed on the Fox River as part of the CityDeck project. The city has yet to demolish the abandoned Port Plaza Mall, and restore Adams, Jefferson, and Bodart Street, which, according to old maps of Green Bay, was the original Main Street, and the Main Street that replaced it was originally the western portion of Cedar Street.

When the street grid was altered in 1977 for the addition of Port Plaza Mall, that prompted a few name changes for some streets in the areas surrounding the mall approximately ten years later. Here are the results of the street changes that happened:

W. Cedar Street becomes part of Main Street.
The part of Main Street that terminated near JCPenney becomes Bodart Street.

The caption in this political cartoon still holds true today:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4326959320_f7b0bf9f94_b.jpg

Puant

February 10th, 2010, 05:25 AM

^^

Sponge: That cartoon just blew my mind. That's from not long after the mall opened I'm guessing. Nice.

Bullfrogs: Good work! Keep it up!

Everyone: nice to see you posting again.

jerkylips999

February 10th, 2010, 11:17 PM

This was in today's PG. You can imagine the comments that followed...

Brown County workers' meal reimbursement could go on diet as Executive Committee votes to cut daily allowance
By Tony Walter • twalter@greenbaypressgazette.com • February 10, 2010

Brown County Board leaders have moved to slash meal reimbursement for county employees after learning the rate was the highest in the state.

The Executive Committee voted unanimously Monday night to reduce the daily payback from $54 to $33 although the total savings to the county won't be known until next week. The full board will vote on the cuts at its Feb. 17 meeting.

"I think $33 is generous," said County Board Chairman Guy Zima, noting that the reimbursement for dinner would go from $27 to $15. "I've never spent $20 on a meal in my life."

Danillo

February 11th, 2010, 12:55 AM

I've gotta side with Guy on this one. If the County rates were the highest in the state, why not cut them back.

Green Bay Sponge

February 11th, 2010, 01:47 AM

Sponge: That cartoon just blew my mind. That's from not long after the mall opened I'm guessing. Nice.

I found it in the August 10, 1977 News-Chronicle article for Port Plaza Mall's grand opening, which I found in the microfilm archives in the Brown County Library's central branch, on the second floor. I found this along with other articles and pictures pertaining to Port Plaza's grand opening in the August 10, 1977 issues of the Green Bay Press-Gazette and Green Bay News-Chronicle newspaper microfilm archives. I got the idea for this from a fellow Flickr user of mine, Andrew Turnbull, who printed some articles and ads for his Flickr account from the microfilms at the library in Manitowoc.

The first article I copied from microfilm to paper, was the store ad from the grand opening of the first ShopKo discount store, from the April 11, 1962 issue of the Press-Gazette.

Geography Teacher

February 11th, 2010, 03:53 AM

"I think $33 is generous," said County Board Chairman Guy Zima, noting that the reimbursement for dinner would go from $27 to $15. "I've never spent $20 on a meal in my life. Then again, I have taken advantage of the county's complimentary BRATWURST benefit."

gbmphillips

February 11th, 2010, 08:21 PM

I love it there is no money available for county placed residents who need medical transportation to medical appointments but they can pay county workers MEAL reimbursement, once again showing the ignorance and stupidity that runs this county.

I hope the Bullfrogs are able to pull off the stadium it will be nice to have a reason to go downtown again especially in the summer and even the roller coaster is a nice idea even in 90% of it would need to be rebuilt.

Tower Park

February 11th, 2010, 09:44 PM

Big front-page article on Zippin Pippin today.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100211/GPG0101/2110558/1978/Photos-Mayor-wants-roller-coaster-operating-at-Bay-Beach-by-2011

Below are photographs of ZP published by the Press-Gazette in print and on-line today, including captions accompanying two of the photos. There was no detail provided on the historical photo. Looks like the roller coaster in recent time has been in storage behind a parking lot; it's now being dismantled. In the print edition of the paper, an accompanying chart indicated the roller coaster is 70 feet high at its peak and hits a speed of 40 mph. The ride takes a minute and a half. The ride was earlier called the Pippin, then in the '70s they added the word Zippin.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-38-8.jpg http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-39-8.jpg

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-40-4.jpg

Workers with Wagner General Contractors cut up sections of the Zippin Pippin roller coaster Thursday afternoon January 28th, 2010, as crews began dismantling the landmark four years after Libertyland was closed as part of a broader effort to redevelop the Mid-South Fairgrounds in Memphis, Tenn. The wooden roller coaster, which has been exposed to the elements with no maintenance since the amusement park closed in October 2005, is being dismantled with care in the hopes that parts of it can be preserved, said Housing and Community Development Director Robert Lipscomb. Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-41-3.jpg

Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt, right, talks with Green Bay Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Bill Landvatter Saturday at Libertyland in Memphis, Tenn., about how the Zippin Pippin roller coaster might fit into Green Bay's Bay Beach Amusement Park. Brandon Dill/The Commercial Appeal

Press-Gazette coverage of the RDA meeting and the Bullfrogs stadium. Discussion on WaterMark was postponed until next month because of the snowstorm.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100210/GPG03/2100633/-1/archive

P.S. That Port Plaza cartoon above was by the famous News-Chronicle cartoonist Lyle Lahey. In the cartoon, seems to me he captures well the hulking nature of the mall and its adjoining parking ramps, as well as the fact Port Plaza was a retail success in its heyday. I remember chartered buses of shoppers would come downtown from places like Sheboygan, Wausau and, I think, Fond du Lac. The mall was promoted as the largest mall north of Milwaukee. Although its environmental damage to the downtown was enormous, Port Plaza worked — from the mid-'70s to around the mid-'90s, I think. Then, it collapsed. The beginning of the end was the opening of the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute in the '80s; a pattern of retail and shopper flight from downtowns all across the country also contributed in a major way, IMO. Construction and later expansion of Bay Park Square played a role too.

A.P.S. Possibly an inside joke. That bearded person in the far right of the Port Plaza cartoon might be Lahey's rendering of Guy Zima back then. Zima's brief profile on the City of Green Bay's website indicates he's been "Serving since: 1976" on the City Council. The mall opened in 1977. Zima opposed the mall.

jerkylips999

February 11th, 2010, 11:02 PM

I love it there is no money available for county placed residents who need medical transportation to medical appointments but they can pay county workers MEAL reimbursement, once again showing the ignorance and stupidity that runs this county.

I love it. This argument completely baffles me. "we don't have enough money to pay teachers, yet we're expanding highways.." "we don't have enough money to fix roads, yet we're building parks..."

With all due respect, what the hell does one thing have to do with the other? You do understand that a budget is not an actual giant bucket of money where everyone can walk up & grab what they "need"?

Tell me, GBM.. If you have a job & you're required to travel, should you also be required to pay for your hotel room? car rentals? Our rule of thumb is that if it's money you would not be spending were it not for the job, it should be reimbursable. it's only fair.

Geography Teacher

February 12th, 2010, 12:24 AM

Amazingly, Lyle Lahey still does political cartoons. You can find his website here: http://www.weimar.ws/lahey/

I used to deliver the News-Chronicle in the mornings (a lot of cold, dark starts to my school days) and I always found time to look at Lahey's cartoons.

Night Rider

February 13th, 2010, 01:16 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz_cTZxTw20

Part of me thinks it's a great idea. But one moment the mayor is saying we have to lay off, then the next minute we have to spend 3 million on a roller coaster that needs a complete overhaul. Should we not get one? Or spend a little more money & get one that's new & up to date? Don't have the answer, but I do have great reservations about spending 3 million on a antique.

UPDATE: Apparently the coaster crashed today while taking it down. Mayor is trying to negotiate a price to use the name & design ... & maybe a few scrap boards for a deck walkway leading to the coaster. This was according to channel 11 news. I think he needs to go back to the drawing board.

honest86

February 13th, 2010, 03:05 AM

Nightrider - I don't think it is a bad idea to take out a loan for something which can pay for itself.

Tower Park

February 13th, 2010, 04:34 AM

Here's more.http://m.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/feb/11/memphis-zippin-pippin-roller-coaster-hits-ground/

Danillo

February 14th, 2010, 04:10 PM

We'll see what the final details on the Pippen purchase are, but the PG article said that 90% of it may be rebuild anyway, so I'm not sure the collapse is a big obstacle. I think it's a good concept. How many city functions turn a profit as Bay Beach does? As much as anything can be, the roller coaster idea seems a sure bet to succeed financially. Whether this specific coaster is the right one or not I can't really say. I wonder if some of the cars can be used here, or if those are beyond repair too.

honest86

February 14th, 2010, 07:37 PM

One of the largest expenses when building a roller coaster is the engineering. They have to factor in both the regular gravity loads as well as the forces of the car as it makes the turns, hills and curves as it moves, so if they can buy just the plans for an existing roller coaster they can save a ton of money just on the design.

gbmphillips

February 15th, 2010, 06:59 AM

"we don't have enough money to pay teachers,.
Teachers are doing just fine on the pay scale and benefits thanks to their union, no crocodile tears from me for them.

MarqKev

February 15th, 2010, 07:31 AM

^^I'm assuming you're aware that the Green Bay Public Schools teachers are not unionized? The idea that grade school teachers make "more than enough" is laughable.

Danillo

February 15th, 2010, 05:12 PM

When did Green Bay teachers stop being unionized? My Dad was a teacher for 32 years and was in a the union. Now, in Wisconsin they aren't allowed to strike, but they bargain collectively.

MarqKev

February 15th, 2010, 06:23 PM

^^I did some research, and you are correct Danillo. I incorrectly recalled the prohibition on striking that my various relatives that work for the Catholic schools and GBPS had talked about as not unionized. My apologies to everyone for speaking without double-checking my facts!

Danillo

February 15th, 2010, 09:46 PM

So, this is somewhat Downtown related, but it's mostly me related. I know I've mentioned before on here my love for the National Parks, well, I'm having a National Parks Art Show next month at the Northern Waters Gallery in the Architect's Building on Pine St. I'm super excited because I get to combine my downtown enthusiasm with my National Parks enthusiasm! So, if y'all get the chance to make it down sometime during March, I'd appreciate it! Dates and times can be found on my website at http://www.nationalparksartist.com/show.htm

Danillo

February 16th, 2010, 12:40 AM

Two items, both related to the CityDeck. First, I was down there yesterday and saw that they have begun installing the main, overhead lights. I don't have a photo, but they aren't what I was expecting. I would describe them as Art Nouveau, very organically shaped which differs from the clean, modern lines of everything else. I'm not saying they are horrible, but it seems like a better choice could have been made. They seem like they are from 1895 Paris more than 2010 Green Bay. Perhaps they will make more sense when the nearby trees grow up. In any case, I'll reserve final judgment until I see them completed at night as well as during the day.

Second, and I don't know if this has been posted here, but I found this on the BSA website: http://www.bsagb.com/inprogress.html Seems like BSA submitted the winning design for the portion of the Fix River Trail that goes underneath Main St.

Tower Park

February 17th, 2010, 10:39 PM

State approves funds for passenger rail from Milwaukee to Madison.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100217/GPG0101/2170545/1978/High-speed-rail-funding-backed-by-state-Legislature

The owner of Bay Park Square (Simon Property Group) wants to purchase the owner of the Fox River Mall (General Growth Properties). General Growth is in bankruptcy. From the article: "General Growth racked up $27 billion in debt by the time it sought shelter from creditors last April, making it the largest real estate bankruptcy case in U.S. history."

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100217/GPG03/2170416/1247/Fox-River-Mall-owner-offered--10B-buyout

Ashwaubenon debating whether Oneida Street by Bay Park Square should be four or six lanes.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100217/GPG0101/2170559/1978/Ashwaubenon-mulls-possible-Oneida-Street-lane-expansion

UWGB set a fall enrollment record of 6,500 students last semester and a spring enrollment record of 6,200 this semester.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100217/GPG0101/100217059/1978/UWGB-sets-spring-semester-enrollment-record

Amazingly, Lyle Lahey still does political cartoons. You can find his website here: http://www.weimar.ws/lahey/

I used to deliver the News-Chronicle in the mornings (a lot of cold, dark starts to my school days) and I always found time to look at Lahey's cartoons.

That's terrific. Had no idea Lahey was still drawing.

Two items, both related to the CityDeck. First, I was down there yesterday and saw that they have begun installing the main, overhead lights. I don't have a photo, but they aren't what I was expecting. I would describe them as Art Nouveau, very organically shaped which differs from the clean, modern lines of everything else. I'm not saying they are horrible, but it seems like a better choice could have been made. They seem like they are from 1895 Paris more than 2010 Green Bay. Perhaps they will make more sense when the nearby trees grow up. In any case, I'll reserve final judgment until I see them completed at night as well as during the day.

Second, and I don't know if this has been posted here, but I found this on the BSA website: http://www.bsagb.com/inprogress.html Seems like BSA submitted the winning design for the portion of the Fix River Trail that goes underneath Main St.

It will be interesting to see the light standards up, and the lights up and running at night.

Nativist

February 19th, 2010, 02:09 AM

Caught wind of a new 30 story tower called the New North that's supposedly going to be constructed just east of the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon. Supposedly the developer has financing and construction will begin this Fall for a projected 2012 opening date. They're thinking hotel, condominiums, a restaurant, sports bar, and banquet facility. I guess that's good but I'm kind of dissapointed that the market seems to be stronger in suburbia.

Tower Park

February 19th, 2010, 02:59 AM

I read it was going to be 33 stories. Either way, it's a great project.

Green Bay roots

February 19th, 2010, 03:05 AM

east of the Resch? isn't that Green Bay again? i know that it jogs a lot and it's hard to say where the boundaries are but is it for sure in Ashwaubenon?

GBFAN

February 19th, 2010, 03:05 AM

Where are you guys reading about this New North Tower?

Tower Park

February 19th, 2010, 03:15 AM

Here's a render I saw. Excuse me, that's 23, not 33, stories. Ashwaubenon Village Board minutes.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/ARCHMACTOWabig.jpg

Nativist

February 19th, 2010, 03:53 AM

The render I saw was a bit more tricked out, probably a bit more further along in the process. It was CAD and had interior views, etc. I don't know the floor count, the guy I was talking to just referred to it as 30 stories. I haven't read about it, I was approached by a sales guy. I don't know where the town line is, but it would go exactly where that Best Western is... I guess that would have to be knocked down.

Okay, my attempt to put in a google map didn't work, but here's the link: map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=resch+center+green+bay&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.956457,76.201172&ie=UTF8&hq=resch+center&hnear=Green+Bay,+WI&ll=44.499038,-88.053124&spn=0.004178,0.009302&t=h&z=17)

Bay2Bay

February 19th, 2010, 05:05 AM

Personally, I wouldn't want to see anything taller than Lambeau Field within a mile of Lambeau Field. I feel that Lambeau Field should be the unobstructed focus of that neighborhood.

Danillo

February 19th, 2010, 05:14 AM

If someone can provide a link I may believe this. But with all the fake crap that gets posted on here, I'm going to assume this is more of the same until shown otherwise.

MarqKev

February 19th, 2010, 08:45 AM

^^Especially since that's a rendering for a potential tower adjacent to the Milwaukee Athletic Club in, well, Milwaukee.

El Mariachi

February 19th, 2010, 08:45 AM

Here's a render I saw. Excuse me, that's 23, not 33, stories. Ashwaubenon Village Board minutes.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/ARCHMACTOWabig.jpg

damn, that tower looks familiar for some reason. I almost think it was proposed in Milwaukee if I am not mistaken.

Hopefully, its built in the Green Bay area. Thats a pretty good looking tower.

Night Rider

February 19th, 2010, 04:04 PM

If someone can provide a link I may believe this. But with all the fake crap that gets posted on here, I'm going to assume this is more of the same until shown otherwise.

Well said!

Kramerica

February 19th, 2010, 05:54 PM

If someone can provide a link I may believe this. But with all the fake crap that gets posted on here, I'm going to assume this is more of the same until shown otherwise.
Tower Park, please stop with your fake articles. They're funny, but they need to be saved for April Fools Day or be CLEARLY marked as satire. I don't appreciate getting excited about a project only to see it is all a ruse. There are so many other legitimate and exciting projects and issues going on in GB, we don't need fake projects. These "articles" may pop up in the future on Google searches and without the context of the thread, there might be some bad quotes made.

Morse

February 19th, 2010, 06:52 PM

Tower Park, please stop with your fake articles. They're funny, but they need to be saved for April Fools Day or be CLEARLY marked as satire. I don't appreciate getting excited about a project only to see it is all a ruse. There are so many other legitimate and exciting projects and issues going on in GB, we don't need fake projects. These "articles" may pop up in the future on Google searches and without the context of the thread, there might be some bad quotes made.

I agree. Though Nativist was the first to post this things like this suck. I was really stoked last night after reading this and after thinking more about it figured it was a joke. Of course, I log in today and it does appear to be that way. I am actually kind of annoyed since that would be major news for the area. Figures...

Nativist

February 19th, 2010, 07:51 PM

I can assure you the what I saw was quite real. It was a large multipage set of renderings that detailed every floor, all the specs, etc. I don't recall the name of the developer because it was of generic; but if it's a hoax then it's definitely one that cost 1000s to produce. The professionalism of what I saw doesn't come cheap. I am not one to lie or misrepresent what Ive seen. Whether it actually gets built is a different story, of course. But they are already trying to sell the spaces.

Tower Park

February 19th, 2010, 08:30 PM

^^

My sincerest apologies, then, to you, Nativist, and everyone else. I thought Nativist's post on a New North Tower, as someone here has said of my faux articles, was an "Onion" piece, maybe to enliven a board in an otherwise slow week. I'm sorry. I will review the situation (though I already had an article completed and waiting for April 1). A 30-story building in Green Bay (or Ashwaubenon). For a town where a 10-story building is big, that's certainly news if it happens. I wonder if this is a Paul Kaczrowski (I think that's his name) project or something else.

Night Rider

February 19th, 2010, 08:41 PM

http://prestige.balancestudios.com/

You can still view the prestige project at this link. I'm sure it's been dead for years though...

Danillo

February 19th, 2010, 09:36 PM

Interesting, Nativist. If this is going to happen this fall we'll need to see something really soon. I'd assume the Ashwaubenon Village Board would have to take this up, and it's certainly not a slam-dunk that they'd support something on that scale. Also, a developer saying they have financing isn't, as you know, a terribly meaningful statement. But this may be something to keep an eye on and hopefully we'd be seeing something official soon.

Tower Park

February 19th, 2010, 09:47 PM

Probably has nothing to do with anything. But since I mentioned Paul Kaczrowski, here's an item from next Monday's Green Bay Plan Commission agenda.

4. Discussion and action on the request by Paul Kaczrowski to discuss the parking issues near the Tundra Lodge.

Recommendations: Receive and place on file.

www.ci.green-bay.wi.us/mins_agd/

Here are some agenda items from next Monday's city Park Committee agenda.

1. Discussion/Action On Acquiring A Roller Coaster For Bay Beach Amusement Park

2. Council Communication From Ald. Theisen Re: Request For A Report On The Profits At Bay Beach For The Last Three Years

www.ci.green-bay.wi.us/mins_agd/

Nativist

February 19th, 2010, 10:02 PM

I'm quite skeptical too. Could be more vaporware. I guess when they level the Best Western we'll know for sure.

Puant

February 22nd, 2010, 04:27 AM

Whether the "NEW North Tower" is really being planned or not, I don't know....However, if one is indeed being discussed I hope they change the name. I get what they are doing with the whole "NEW North" movement and all, but one thing that came to mind is that the World Trade Center towers had a "North Tower" and this sounds a bit like, "Hey, we're building the New North Tower here".. which I know isn't the intent, to replace that, but for anyone from New York or around the world, that is what it might sound like.

As for the "faux posts"...I don't really mind them I guess. I mean, some of our major TV networks kill a lot of time with a bunch of B.S. too, so why not this forum? We should all learn to have a good B.S. detector, not just for this thread but for all of what we hear in the media and life in general I guess.

Jschmuck

February 24th, 2010, 03:32 AM

good news first;

Bay Beach roller coaster backed by Green Bay park panel

A proposal to build a roller coaster at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay got out of the starting gate Monday, but there were signs of possible political turbulence ahead.

One alderman is calling on Mayor Jim Schmitt to reimburse taxpayers for the cost of traveling to Memphis, Tenn., to check out a coaster associated with Elvis Presley.
Another alderman wants to mandate that all future improvements to city-owned Bay Beach be funded strictly through private donations.

the rest here http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100223/GPG0101/2230509/1978/Bay-Beach-roller-coaster-backed-by-Green-Bay-park-panel

bad news last;

Bike trail on Green Bay's west side rejected by city panel

Opponents of a proposed bike-pedestrian trail at the U.S. 41-Lombardi Avenue interchange won a victory Monday when a City Council committee rejected the plan.

Members of the Improvement & Service Committee voted to recommend that the trail not be developed.
The split vote included two aldermen opposing the trail, one supporting it, and a fourth abstaining from the vote. The matter now goes before the full council on March 2.
The state Department of Transportation proposed the trail, which would extend into John Muir Park, as part of a plan for overhauling the U.S. 41-Lombari intersection.

Pretty sad when a billion dollars is being spent to fix 41, yet a NON-billion dollar bike trail is opposed by local power...Multimodal??? hell no

Puant

February 25th, 2010, 05:39 AM

OK so the "NEW North Tower" plans are real. Somebody's really planning this and apparently the financing is at least sorta realistic. We'll see. When there is a real render to post I'm sure somebody will.

I'm not familiar with the proposed trail that recently got killed on the west side. Anyone have a map of that? I guess it would just be a chalk drawing outline now since it's dead. Kinda like the packerland annals blog...

Danillo

February 26th, 2010, 04:17 AM

^^ The city has a page about this: http://www.ci.green-bay.wi.us/planning/JohnMuirConnection.html As best I can tell I & S voted against the trail bowing to pressure from the Muir Park neighborhood association. I'm not entirely sure what their concerns with the trail are. I can infer from the response that planning put together that they were concerned about safety, which seems a bit odd to me. I actively want the place I live to be well connected with bike paths. Anyway, I don't really know the concerns to know if they are founded or not, and I look forward the the I & S minutes being posted in hopes that sheds some light on why the vote was against this when the state would have paid for it as part of the interchange reconstruction, and the state would not be paying for it in the future.

Puant

February 26th, 2010, 05:42 AM

jerkylips999

February 26th, 2010, 04:51 PM

article in today's press-gazette.. I have a couple punchlines about vetter in my head but I'll hold back..

UW-Milwaukee Architecture Students Visit Green Bay Firm
Updated: Feb 25, 2010 5:48 PM CST
Students from UW-Milwaukee came to Green Bay to receive a firsthand look at how architecture impacts the real world.

The students are part of a new class at the university called "Learning Lessons: Fabricating the Architecture of Education."

Thursday the students toured KI's design and manufacturing facilities for hands-on experience.

"I think we all have ideas of what we want to do, but there are certain parameters that you have to work with and to see those in the real world. They can give you additional ideas as well in the design process," graduate student Ian Kearns said.

The associate professor said it's exciting to be able to show her class how the architecture field operates outside of the classroom.

mgk920

February 26th, 2010, 07:05 PM

^^Thanks Dan. By the way, love the national park art!

So to keep this discussion alive....here's some humor for ya:

I think that a lot of people will use passenger rail in Wisconsin. We know it's successful between Milwaukee and Chicago, and I think the line between Milwaukee and Madison will be popular and well-used also. The other line to get finished next should be the Milwaukee - Fox Valley - Green Bay line as we've discussed here.

That all said, while I think they'll be well-used, I don't think the Wisconsin lines will be quite THIS heavily used! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHQN_vWhzPo)(this video was taken in China).
That was shot in Japan. It is pretty normal for station guards to do that on the Tokyo subway, too.

:eek:

OTOH, check out video some of those trains in Pakistan during major Islamic holiday pilgrimages, you can hardly see the trains underneath the passengers!

Double :eek:

Mike

Kramerica

February 26th, 2010, 11:42 PM

I think that a lot of people will use passenger rail in Wisconsin. We know it's successful between Milwaukee and Chicago, and I think the line between Milwaukee and Madison will be popular and well-used also. The other line to get finished next should be the Milwaukee - Fox Valley - Green Bay line as we've discussed here.
The line to Green Bay WILL NOT be the next line constructed, as detailed on page 22 of this report (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/state/docs/2030-chapter8.pdf). Milwaukee to Madison is Phase I and is hopefully* going to be constructed in the next 3-4 years. Madison to St. Paul is Phase II and hopefully* will have an environmental study completed in the next few years. There is no source of construction funding for Phase II. Finally, Chicago to Green Bay is Phase III. There is no source of funding for a study or for construction for Phase III.

* I say hopefully because although we did get ARRA money for these two projects, if Scott Walker is elected governor, he is going to do EVERYTHING he can to stop those projects.

Bay2Bay

February 27th, 2010, 07:29 AM

This is off the subject of trains, zippin pippins, and trails. Saw this really cool flyover of Green Bay on You Tube which was created by FantasticPlanetTV and thought I'd share with ya'll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWaifYwkfKk&NR=1

gbmphillips

February 28th, 2010, 05:51 AM

Night Rider

March 1st, 2010, 01:24 AM

Lets see we have a downtown with a shell of a building next to a hole in the ground by an empty and deteriorating mall and some one is going to build a 30 story tower out by Lambeau.........:lol:

Ok time to get the water tested in this town.....

It's not like the mayor got Younkers out of their lease, allowing them to leave downtown early! Oh ya...he did get them out of their lease. And it cost us many, many millions in the process. What would have happened had he not intervened & Younkers was forced to stay open for a few more years, or they had to pay their own penalty for breaking their own lease??? Unless someone was ready to break ground the next day, he shouldn't of did what he did. Huge mistake that he won't take credit for.

But if you ask him the next project is a month (or two) away from breaking ground. It's been that way for many years.

Bay2Bay

March 1st, 2010, 01:31 AM

^^
Paul Jadin was mayor when Younkers was let out of their lease.

Night Rider

March 1st, 2010, 11:51 AM

^^
Paul Jadin was mayor when Younkers was let out of their lease.

Thanks for the correction.

Of course Paul did get rewarded with another job in the community. Both Paul & Jim have to take credit for the mess.

Puant

March 2nd, 2010, 03:26 AM

Kramerica

March 2nd, 2010, 04:35 AM

Anyone have any positive news?
A great art show (http://www.danillo.com/show.htm) is starting this Thursday in downtown Green Bay by an emerging local artist!

Morse

March 2nd, 2010, 06:21 PM

:storm: happens.

It's not so simple that it can be pegged to one or two people. A whole bunch of different things came together to get us where we are today.

Anyone have any positive news? Spring is warming things up. Some good festivals including one of my favorite (Tall Ships...this year a big one) coming to downtown. WIth the city deck finished, this one will be much nicer than the last ones.

The "Pippin" gets voted on tonight. I see that this potential has garnered interest from big groups like the American Coaster Enthusiasts and The National Amusement Park Historical Association. I think that this could be a fantastic addition and draw a lot of interest from people. I am just really worried that the City Council screws this up (Zima, Vanderbeast, etc.). There has already been some heated discussion with this and I had also read that someone (the name escapes me) is stepping up to challenge Alderman Wiezbieski (sp.) because as this person has publicly stated that we are wasting money on a boardwalk and a falling down roller coaster. This has me seriously puzzled as to what some of these people really want for Green Bay. Is it just so they can make a name for themselves, create controversy and get their name in the paper or do they really want to make a difference. There has got to be some competent people in this city to run. WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD and I am sick and tired of these wankers holding Green Bay back. If I lived there, I would run. I even saw a blurb the GBPG chat about diversity that someone mentiond how truly disturbing that Zima is in office. He is a jerk, a bigot, an idiot and a all around douche bag. I hope that this vote does not get screwed up. Does everyone else feel good about it passing?

Jesse276

March 2nd, 2010, 06:28 PM

I think adding that coaster would be a great attraction, that would be very fitting for Green Bay. It's very unique and family friendly, which could spur additional improvements and other historical/retro ride additions.

We all know that a large amusement park like a Six Flags, will not open in eastern WI. However, this has the potential to be a mini-version with real character that draws in people from around the state. Albeit on a much lower level than Six Flags.

Good Luck to Green Bay

Green Bay 4 Life

March 2nd, 2010, 07:07 PM

I hope that this vote does not get screwed up. Does everyone else feel good about it passing?

I see the vote passing 8 -4 with Zima, Dewayne, Nicholson, and Vander Leest voting against it.

Why? Because it is easier to vote no on everything. That way if it falls apart you can say "See, I voted no". No one remebers the successful project votes, but everyone remebers the stuff that falls flat on its face. That is the Green Bay area way. We see it on the City Council, County Board and other municipal Boards and Commissions.

Night Rider

March 2nd, 2010, 09:47 PM

I'm sure it will pass. I'm not in the loop on these things. But was there a committee set up to explore finding roller coasters? Has there been sufficient study that this is the best option & the actual cost won't be 4 million instead of 3 million? This has the appearance of squiggy flying around & jumping on the 1st roller coaster he sees. Saying all that...if there was sufficient research done & it will pay for itself, I think it's a no brainer to vote for it to come to Green Bay.

I agree with most of what was said about ZIMA...& I hope he is gone soon. But at the opposite end I'm glad there are a few that ask questions and keep things in check. It's just the way they do it that's wrong. It seems no matter what the topic, they are against it, if the mayor is for it.

Bay Beach park is definately in need of a upgraded attraction!

Bay2Bay

March 3rd, 2010, 06:52 AM

City Council Approves Zippin Pippin. Here's the story from WBAY.

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=12072970

City Council Approves Zippin Pippin Roller-coaster for Bay Beach
Updated: Mar 02, 2010 8:24 PM PST
By Matt Smith

By a vote of 7-4, the Green Bay City Council on Tuesday night gave the green light to building a wooden roller-coaster at Bay Beach -- specifically, the design of the Memphis Zippin Pippin.

The vote means the city can move forward to buy the design of the Zippin Pippin which used to run at the now-defunct Libertyland amusement park in Tennessee. It was reportedly Elvis Presley's favorite ride.

The estimated $3 million project also includes the naming rights and some artifacts as well as building the coaster new in Green Bay. The city estimates $600,000 would come from fund-raising and $2.4 million from a revenue bond.

That bond, the city believes, will repay itself from ridership within ten years, and then the roller-coaster will start making money for the city.

Bay Beach is the city's only profitable park. In 2009, revenue from the amusement park reached nearly $814,000.

Council members debated the issue, asking questions from the city's park director as well as a roller-coaster consultant the city is working with.

"If it is going to bring revenue to the park, we want to make sure we understand all the different costs. I think we need more background on some of the details related to the operations, insurance, maintenance," Alderman John VanderLeest said.

"It, in fact, is definitely a no-brainer. Three-million dollars cost from start to finish as well as maintenance will be paid for by its own ride sales. Self-sufficient, private donations, and not a dollar from the taxpayers," Alderman Jerry Wiezbiskie said.

The city will now finalize buying the naming rights and design from the former park in Memphis.

Construction on the new coaster could begin this summer, and the city hopes to have the ride open at Bay Beach in May, 2011.

OliverDP

March 3rd, 2010, 02:52 PM

GBSurveyor

March 3rd, 2010, 04:21 PM

That's great news! One step in the right direction. It sure seems gloomy around here sometimes (maybe it is the long winters and all the negative posts on the GBPG forums :) ), but this area has a lot to be proud of. Bay beach is one of those areas. I know this whole recession isn't over yet, but to be able to do things like this in today's economy is a good sign. Looking forward to construction and further developments around GB.

I can't wait to see the line at the park on opening day in 2011!
OliverDP- I know that it is hard at times, but try not to read the PG comments it will make your life much more positive.

On a side note if you like the outdoors now is a great time to check out Wequiock falls (http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/wequiock.shtml), out in the town of Scott, just off of STH 57 and Bay Settlement Road. Its a sure sign of spring.

Jschmuck

March 3rd, 2010, 05:48 PM

So glad to hear about the rollercoaster!

Everyone, don't let the constant pessimism of a few on here get you down. They look at the glass half empty. Don't forget there is a lot of good stuff in this city.

Milley29

March 3rd, 2010, 06:31 PM

I am very glad that the coaster was approved, it will be a great asset to Bay Beach and the city, but the thing that disturbs me is that there was still 4 councilmen that voted no. This project was a slam dunk that will bring in more people and there was really no evidence to say otherwise. Hopefully this proves to be a turning point and GB can get back on a positive development track.

A separate note, the construction on 172 has made me drive through downtown a lot more recently and I would think that other people are too, which is a good thing.

GBSurveyor

March 3rd, 2010, 07:59 PM

Anyone know what the big deal with the trail was???

I was looking at the maps and it makes complete sense to build the damn thing.:ohno:

Jschmuck

March 3rd, 2010, 08:36 PM

^^ Yea! cars may not go on it! OH SNAP!

Night Rider

March 4th, 2010, 12:11 AM

Anyone know what the big deal with the trail was???

I was looking at the maps and it makes complete sense to build the damn thing.:ohno:

I think it came down to NIMBY syndrome. Bunch of people showed & expressed concerns over crime & associated problems. No one wanted it, or at least voiced that they wanted it.

dmsklutz

March 4th, 2010, 05:05 AM

I think it came down to NIMBY syndrome. Bunch of people showed & expressed concerns over crime & associated problems. No one wanted it, or at least voiced that they wanted it.

Everything I heard was NIMBY ... it will bring too many people to "our neighborhood" - there would be an increase in traffic... crime ??... garbage...

Sounds like the same arguements against the fox river trail... and every subdivision that is forced to put in sidewalks between blocks at the end of circle drives so people can easily walk in a neighborhood instead of having to go WAY around... or cut through someone's yards... (yet they petition the city to remove them as homes are built nearby)

I think instead of listening to local "neighborhood" groups on issues like this that are truely "city wide" projects.... they need to commission phone surveys or poll groups like bikers and walkers from nearby areas as well as citywide groups. The city was truely short sighted on this one...they could have a nice trail mostly paid for with state/federal funds as part of the redo of the 41/lombardi ramps

Night Rider

March 5th, 2010, 03:19 AM

Hey, was that really Harrison Ford at Republic Chophouse last night?

BY KENDRA MEINERT • kmeinert@greenbaypressgazette.com • March 4, 2010

Perhaps not quite as intriguing as “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,’’ but “Indiana Jones and the Republic Chophouse’’ does have a nice ring to it.

Actor Harrison Ford had dinner Wednesday night in downtown Green Bay, where he dropped in unannounced at the Republic Chophouse, 218 N. Adams St.

Restaurant manager Mark Hemminger was working when the 67-year-old Ford came in with several other men.

“He walked in, and it was one of those things where you think you recognize someone,’’ said Hemminger, who didn’t know for sure until he heard Ford’s voice.

He seated Ford and his party in a private booth. Other diners likely had no idea who was in their company until after dinner when he came out to the bar, Hemminger said.

“A total surprise to us, but a nice surprise,’’ he said. “A gentleman, kind, real laid-back.’’

Hemminger was able to chat with him briefly but wasn’t sure what brought him to town.

“It sounded like he was just passing through,’’ he said.

Ford, who was born in Park Ridge, Ill., and attended Ripon College, is a private pilot who has dropped in at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh in previous years.

His fiancée, “Brothers & Sisters’’ actress Calista Flockhart, was not with him at the restaurant, Hemminger said.

So what did the man who played Han Solo in the “Star Wars’’ trilogy order to eat?

A bone-in beef tenderloin, listed for $35 on the menu.

Danillo

March 5th, 2010, 05:32 PM

My 2 cents on the bike path. I think the term "recreational trail" that gets applied tho places like this and the Fox River Trail does them a disservice. It makes them seem less important than they are. Take the Fox River Trail. It's is used for recreation to be sure, that's it's primary use. But it's also an important piece of transportation infrastructure. There are tons of people who use that to get to work, or to make other trips between Green Bay and De Pere (or in my case, between Green Bay and Wrightstown). The affect that has is to remove cars and bikes from parallel streets, making them more efficient. Obviously the use of the trail isn't as high as say, riverside drive, but the installation and maintenance costs are much lower. Such trails are an important piece of the overall transportation system.

With this trail to Muir Park, it isn't just for the recreational use of people in the area. It's a thoroughfare people people passing through the area. So while the feeling of the area residents count, that shouldn't be the overriding factor in whether or not to go ahead, because this is a piece of the transportation puzzle that benefits those outside of the Muir Park neighborhood. When we can get past seeming them only for their recreational value (which is significant) but also see them as what they really are (infrastructure just like roads), we won't see poor decisions like this made.

Navarino Rezdnt

March 5th, 2010, 10:42 PM

But it's also an important piece of transportation infrastructure. There are tons of people who use that to get to work, or to make other trips between Green Bay and De Pere (or in my case, between Green Bay and Wrightstown). The affect that has is to remove cars and bikes from parallel streets, making them more efficient.

^^

"Alternative Transportation Corridors"

Night Rider

March 6th, 2010, 04:14 PM

Danillo, How's the art gallery going? You have some awesome photographs! What make/model camera do you use?

Morse

March 6th, 2010, 06:08 PM

I'm quite skeptical too. Could be more vaporware. I guess when they level the Best Western we'll know for sure.

Who knows if this is just coincidence but I did see on loopnet that the Best Western is for sale and has an asking price of $6.2 million.

nowpc2

March 7th, 2010, 11:53 PM

Jschmuck

March 8th, 2010, 01:08 AM

Its a little old news but;

BelGioioso facility to benefit from $339K grant: Money to provide water, sewer service

LEDGEVIEW — The Wisconsin Department of commerce announced Thursday a $339,000 grant to the village to extend water and sewer service to a new facility being built by BelGioioso Cheese Inc.

Work on the service extension and the building at 4200 Main Street are under way and Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel said it's one of several agriculture- related projects the state is helping support.

the rest here; http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100305/GPG03/3050428/1247/BelGioioso-facility-to-benefit-from--339K-grant

Morse

March 8th, 2010, 02:20 AM

My wife and I took a walk on the CityDeck after a wonderful dinner at Titletown last night. We have been on the CityDeck a few times recently but this time they had the new lights on.

I must say, the lighting is not what I expected. The are more like spot lights than steet lights. I wonder how bright they are for the residents off of the CityDeck?

Has anyone else checked them out?

PC-Aesthetically speaking, did they look nice? Did you find these to be too bright and annoying? Maybe they are still working on adjusting the brightness of these lights?

Danillo

March 9th, 2010, 03:18 AM

Danillo, How's the art gallery going? You have some awesome photographs! What make/model camera do you use?

Thanks! The art show is going well. I had about 50 people show up for the opening, and about another 15 came on Saturday. I think I can get to 150 total visitors by the end of the month... I'd love to see 200 come through. I've sold a few things which is a nice bonus.

If any of you haven't seen that space I'd urge you to stop down just for that, it's a really great building. It really needs to be used more, and that may become my pet project. That space could be bringing 2,000 people downtown a year. That's not a ton, but it's also not bad for a space of maybe 400 or 500 sq/ft. I know several people who have been to my show have said that they also ate downtown while they were there. Plus it would be great for community artists like me to have a space to show their work.

As for my camera, most of my work has been shot with a Minolta X-700 manual focus film camera. I have that and a set of really nice Minolta lenses that do a great job. I'm about to buy an Olympus E-600 DLSR, but the main reason for that is that I'm sick of paying to buy and process film, and I shoot slide film which is even more expensive. The digital will pay for itself in about 40 rolls worth of shots. Digital's great, but if it weren't for film costs I'd be perfectly happy to stick with that, and I'll still use the Minolta even after I get my new camera.

My wife and I took a walk on the CityDeck after a wonderful dinner at Titletown last night. We have been on the CityDeck a few times recently but this time they had the new lights on.

I must say, the lighting is not what I expected. The are more like spot lights than steet lights. I wonder how bright they are for the residents off of the CityDeck?

Has anyone else checked them out?

I'm curious to see those on. I'm so-so on the look of the new light flixtures. They aren't what I was expecting for that space. I'm done at the gallery tomorrow at 8 so I'll have to walk down and see them on after that.

OliverDP

March 9th, 2010, 02:58 PM

I think I can get to 150 total visitors by the end of the month... I'd love to see 200 come through.

I'm hoping to get down there in a couple weeks. The website looks great and I would love to support the exhibit and downtown. Maybe I'll even meet the nearly-locally-famous Danillo :nuts: Best of luck on the rest of the show!

I'm curious to see those on. I'm so-so on the look of the new light flixtures. They aren't what I was expecting for that space. I'm done at the gallery tomorrow at 8 so I'll have to walk down and see them on after that.

I was also on the CD during the day on Sunday. The lights were also not what I was expecting, but I'm not sure they are bad. They just look small and quaint compared to what I was expecting. Being semi-modern, I'm wondering if they were planning for the future growth along the river with some more modern buildings.

Green Bay 4 Life

March 9th, 2010, 04:03 PM

Well the Watermark update is on the RDA Agenda again today. Hopefully Vetter will be able to make it up today as last month he couldn't because of the snow. And looking outside, it is foggy - so I am not holding my breath. Apparently they have not heard of telephone conferences...

I'm assuming that "we are weeks away and still looking for that final investor to sign on". This is like a canned response that we have heard for how long now? Seriously, the longer this goes on the more disinterested I get in this project. I would love to see the Children's Museum downtown but even they have to be getting fed up.

I still don't understand how we got here. Astor at one time was 60% leased (Before the real estate crash). Vetter said he needed 40% to get going. Obviously this guy can't pull the trigger in Green Bay. This vision started out so grand and now I hear a lot of people complaining out the piss pour quality in the Flats on the Fox and horrible management and I wonder if we need another crappy project on the River. Once these go up and take this valuable piece of real estate - we won't get it back for a long time (well maybe the Flats will just fall down in a couple years...)

If the same "canned" answer comes out again today "building by Spring", I say the RDA puts a deadline on it of two weeks, requires him to pay the Million Dollars he owes for the work done on Washington Street prepping for Astor Place, and if he can't pull it off - use the million dollars to demo the bombed out building and whatever is left over start on the mall.

This is just painful.:ohno:

jerkylips999

March 9th, 2010, 09:01 PM

interesting story on yahoo today. At least we're not at this point..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/ap_on_bi_ge/us_downsizing_detroit

jerkylips999

March 9th, 2010, 09:05 PM

From Sunday's PG. The bolded section is not surprising, even though this guy had projects fall through in Ashwaubenon as well..

Kwik Trip plans two new stores in the Green Bay metro area, according to developer Paul Kaczrowski, who sold the land for each.

One gas station and convenience store will be at 935 Lombardi Ave., former site of Kaczrowski's Prestige Realty office. The other will be near his Black Forest Dining & Spirits restaurant, 1966 Velp Ave., Howard.

He said Kwik Trip wants to begin construction as soon as it can. Kwik Trip has six stores in the Green Bay metro area.

Kaczrowski moved his Prestige office to Glendale Mall, 2436 Glendale Ave., in Howard, which he also owns.

One other former tenant of the Lombardi office, Action Quality Printing, also moved to Glendale Mall.

The other tenants, a Sprint office and Green Bay Pizza West Pub and Grill, are closed.

Kaczrowski said he is liquidating all his property in the city of Green Bay. He has 19 acres near Lombardi Avenue for sale, and he's already sold 150 of 174 apartment units.

He said Green Bay has been too difficult to deal with on development issues.

"I'm talking to Ashwaubenon and Howard. They are very receptive to everything I'm doing," he said.

Kaczrowski said he is working on a hotel and an office building at the Black Forest site, which is at the Velp Avenue exit of U.S. 41.

Jschmuck

March 9th, 2010, 09:25 PM

interesting story on yahoo today. At least we're not at this point..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/...sizing_detroit

nope, in fact its opposite;

Survey: Manufacturing, construction sectors looking to hire

Hiring will outpace firing in the Green Bay metro area in the second quarter if circumstances develop as employers expect.

Manpower Inc.'s Employment Outlook Survey for the second quarter found that 20 percent of Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area employers plan to hire in April, May and June.
rest here; http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100309/GPG0101/3090483/1978/Area-s-job-growth-signs-are-positive

On a personal note, my father was layed off the past August, but has since found a new full time career in a completely new business in the area in February.

And finally :(;

Morrison residents reject wind farm in 245-18 vote

MORRISON — Town residents voted decisively against wind turbines Monday night.

By a 245-18 vote, they asked their Town Board to support a four-part strategy to head off a wind farm development that proposes to build 100 turbines in southern Brown County, 54 of them in Morrison.

rest here;http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100309/GPG0101/3090493/1978/Morrison-residents-reject-wind-farm

hope the other 46 turbines at least go ahead. NAHH, i would rather we keep getting air quality alert days which are helped by burning stuff for electricity, right?

Green Bay 4 Life

March 9th, 2010, 11:30 PM

Paul Kaczrowski is a jackass. Another small time developer who thinks he is big league. What? You want the City to buy all these parcels and pay to relocate businesses prior to you having any commitments or track record of pulling off a major development. Sure where do I sign. Event eh City of Green Bay isn't that stupid. It will be a few months until Paul is saying the same about Ashwaubenon and Howard.

Puant

March 10th, 2010, 03:00 AM

GBguy

March 10th, 2010, 05:10 AM

Any news on the RDA/Vetter meeting today?

gbmphillips

March 10th, 2010, 02:40 PM

Any news on the RDA/Vetter meeting today?

Just the same old song and dance form an incompetent developer. "Developer John Vetter told the Green Bay Redevelopment Authority on Tuesday that the project's financing has entered the final approval phases that could take up to 10 weeks to complete."

What a failure he has been for the city, what he has built is as ugly as they could be and the vision he has is even worse.

Navarino Rezdnt

March 10th, 2010, 06:34 PM

OnBroadway will ask the city to close off Broadway during Farmers' Market on Wed. nights. Watch the WBAY (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wbay.com%252Fglobal%252Fvideo%252Fflash%252Fpopupplayer.asp%253FClipID1%253D4607697%2526h1%253DOn%252520Broadway%252520Looks%252520at%252520Farmers%252520Market%252520Safety%2526vt1%253Dv%2526at1%253DNews%2526d1%253D115800%2526LaunchPageAdTag%253DHomepage%2526activePane%253Dinfo%2526rnd%253D59129840&h=1449a03b9635a14a5a36a4457e9faaf8&ref=nf) story.

Danillo

March 10th, 2010, 07:23 PM

I got to the CityDeck last night. I think the new lights do a pretty good job. If anything I think they're a bit too bright and they take away from the up-lighting on the trees. But overall I think the light is pretty even, perhaps better on the north portion than the south, but not bad at all. The last piece to be turned on, and the one I'm most anxious to see, is all the the indirect lighting under the benches. I think that will look great.

Just the same old song and dance form an incompetent developer. "Developer John Vetter told the Green Bay Redevelopment Authority on Tuesday that the project's financing has entered the final approval phases that could take up to 10 weeks to complete."

That's too funny. Who could have seen that quote coming... oh, wait... everyone saw that coming.

Tower Park

March 10th, 2010, 10:20 PM

Tower Park

March 10th, 2010, 10:20 PM

And how many have criticized John Vetter . . . relentlessly? Yes, Astor Place failed spectacularly and Vetter's guilty of over-promising. But he did build Riverfront Lofts and was ready to move on WaterMark when the economy crashed, the same crash that has stopped Larsen Green in its tracks. (Note to the clueless on this board who wouldn't know satire if it slapped them in the face: I did a faux post on Vetter — with a nice smiling picture of him — but it was in jest.)

A Mexican restaurant opens downtown and this board's resident John Bircher — Night Rider — goes on an ugly rant about illegal aliens. And gbmphillips just comes across as a bitter old man.

My guess is that most of us on this board don't have a clue what it takes in money, time, resources, patience, perseverance and effort to pull off multi-million-dollar development projects, especially in a town like Green Bay (hardly a magnet for developers) especially at this time. Despite some spectacular failures — notably the mall — downtown has also had some spectacular successes in recent years. Developers are no different than the rest of us: they have their strengths and they have their weaknesses. We should work with their strengths, encourage their vision and support bringing the best of their projects to reality.

Night Rider

March 10th, 2010, 10:33 PM

A Mexican restaurant opens downtown and this board's resident John Bircher — Night Rider — goes on an ugly rant about illegal aliens. And gbmphillips just comes across as a bitter old man.
.

You've officially lost it. Go back to your cave.

Update:

You actually lost it once before....When you started ranting about something that you thought I said in the Press Gazette. The prescription must have run out again....

"And what level have I sunk to, dare say? Aren't you the guy who's attacked the mayor here and in Press-Gazette online forums for being short? And something about you attending the State of the City address last week and looking for Schmitt but couldn't find him because he was hidden behind the podium. Real funny. And aren't you the guy who always refers to the mayor as "Squiggy" or something. God knows what else you're up to. Better point that big accusing finger of yours squarely at yourself. Hypocrite."

PS...the mayor is short.

nowpc2

March 10th, 2010, 10:55 PM

Hello Morse,

I had a rely written a few days ago but forgot to submit it.

As Danillo posted, the lights are a bit bright but overall not bad. I think they will work well for events even if they do somewhat hide the other lighting elements.

I just wonder if they are annoying to residents along the CityDeck.

PC-Aesthetically speaking, did they look nice? Did you find these to be too bright and annoying? Maybe they are still working on adjusting the brightness of these lights?

Night Rider

March 10th, 2010, 11:14 PM

"I am sitting there showering, naked as a jaybird, and here comes Tower Park, not even with a towel . . . his finger in my chest, yelling at me because I wasn't going to vote for squiggy's project," Massa said. "You know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?"

Tower Park

March 10th, 2010, 11:48 PM

You've officially lost it. Go back to your cave.

You're like so many conservatives I know. You can dish out criticism 24/7 — in your case, in the past year you've gone after Mayor Schmitt, Mayor Jadin, Hispanics, developers and people who support the federal government's stimulus program — but can't take criticism back. About a year ago I was a new poster here and wrote some nonpartisan posts on stimulus spending in Green Bay — in the past during the Great Depression as well as what I thought perhaps could qualify for stimulus projects in the current economy — and you called me a socialist, posting a dictionary definition of socialism in response to one of my posts. That started that whole thing off.

But that's the past. My point here is that I think developers talked about on this board are often unfairly criticized. (Maybe I've fallen into that trap myself.) So I've come to their defense. I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but I suspect that development is not an easy thing to accomplish, especially in a smaller city like Green Bay — with a damaged downtown and a sometimes dysfunctional City Council that's given the city a bad reputation in some quarters — and especially in this economy (which is, by the way, slowly improving so far).

Green Bay 4 Life

March 11th, 2010, 12:09 AM

I find some of the armchair developers on this board amazing. You complain about the lack of development or quality development downtown or elsewhere in Green Bay but then attack, criticize and condemn people who do step forward.

Green Bay 4 Life calls Paul Kaczrowski a jackass and dismisses him as a "small time developer." I don't know the man, and he certainly has had his development failures. But didn't Kaczrowski have something to do with the Tundra Lodge and Cambria Suites projects and doesn't he now own Black Forest Dining & Spirits? By the way, GB4L, where's that forthcoming announcement on Lofts on Adams you talked about last fall?

Dude. Wow chill out... Have you ever met Paul K? I have and I have worked with him on development projects, and I do know what it takes in Green Bay as well as other markets. I am entitled to my opinion. If you disagree with it - that is your choice - but don't presume to know what my background is at all or what I have done or not done...

1st off, he bought the Black Forest Dining that someone else built - anyone can buy a restaurant - hardly status of a big time developer. Second - he sold the land that Cambria built on. Again - hardly a man without any big time development experience can sell property, right? Same goes for the Champions Sports Grill. Do you see a pattern here?

As far as Lofts on Adams. Well you got me. I heard from the Developer they would start to advertise soon and they sent me a spec sheet and what not. Again, I think I said the developer was not one who also has a great track record. Wow, not like we haven't heard this from someone before... Now who could that be? Vetter perhaps. I'm a couple months off, not a couple years...

We have a right to complain. With all of the other crap going on in this world, I am not going to go and plant my two lips on John Vetter's ass just so he feels better about throwing a proposal out there and jerking our chains for two years. Someone needs to apply pressure, but then again that isn't the Green Bay way.

Have a cold one and relax.:cheers:

jerkylips999

March 11th, 2010, 12:40 AM

Tower Park - I think some of your rant is valid, some is not. Criticizing someone for being a "small time developer" isn't fair. You're right - everyone has failures. Hopefully you have more successes than failures. I don't know Paul K., & I won't pretend to know his history, so I'll leave it alone. The reason I posted that article from the PG was because of his statement about difficulty in working in the city to get stuff developed. I think there is some truth to that. Look at guys like Zima, who try to shoot down everything & don't seem to understand that not all spending is bad.

Your defense of Vetter....I can't get with you on that one. Yes, the economy took a hit. Yes, the timing of his project was bad. BUT no one forces him to stand up & make empty promises over & over & over (& over). At this point, it smells of desparation - that he's just trying to string us along hoping for something good to happen - it's disingenuous.

OliverDP

March 11th, 2010, 12:48 AM

At least there is more discussion on the board :nuts:

My two cents... everybody on the board has a right to their opinion. Where we don't need comments are personal attacks to anybody else on the board or inappropriate comments/attacks (race, sex, religion, gender, etc.) about anybody. The people complaining about the lack of development have every right to. The people that defend Vetter also have every right to. It doesn't make anybody right or wrong or better than the other. The fact is that Vetter has promised a lot of big developments downtown over a long period of time. Another fact is the economy is in the can and pulling off any large-scale development is incredibly difficult right now. I'm not surprised that Vetter is having a hard time finding financing or getting these projects going. However, I am in the same boat as others on this board that I just don't like being "lied" to. The endless delays and empty promises (so far) are what really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It's like offering your kid $5 for cutting the lawn but not giving it to him when he finishes. If you never offer the $5 in the first place the kid may not like cutting the lawn, but he wont be nearly as angry when he's done if you never promise him the $5 and don't give it to him (same principal applies - loss of trust and support). The reason that Larson Green and other projects aren't discussed as much is because they have been deemed dead (for the time being). There is nothing to get our hopes up about except for long-term speculation. However, WaterMark is seemingly in the news every week, at least on this board, because it is being touted as a very real possibility. Just trying to state some facts and help everybody understand each other's points of view.

Tower Park

March 11th, 2010, 01:26 AM

Aside from being told to go back to my cave (I actually live in a tree), the responses here from everyone have been thoughtful, with good points and background information. But I'm waiting for a big hit from Danillo. Possibly phillips too. I just hope Vetter pulls it off with WaterMark. Then all of us can have a cold one and relax and toast downtown Green Bay.

Puant

March 11th, 2010, 02:33 AM

Geez, I feel kinda left out....there's got to be some harsh criticism to throw at ol' Puant...

Since this thread was slowing down as of late, I was counting on T. Park to come strong with something to rile us all up! I guess he got sick of the faux news (though I'm still looking forward to the April Fools Day one!) so he decided to take a different tack. What other tactics could be used to stir things up when needed? I expect next he might climb up to the top of the hollowed out portion of what's left of Younkers, chain himself up there to the old water tower and refuse to come down until the developments gets done. He could eat pigeons. Tower: If you do that, don't forget to bring a bullhorn so you can yell stuff down at people.

gbmphillips

March 11th, 2010, 03:14 AM

And gbmphillips just comes across as a bitter old man.Oh thank goodness I was afarid that no one was paying attention. I know when I have to babysit the grandkids they have now labeled my home as Grumpy Grandpas Day Care......so Tower Park it looks like you nailed my personaltity spot on. So everyone lets just be like Tower all sunshine and roses and never have a bad thought here again, the discussion should be stimulating and we will all feel good about oursleves in the end.

nowpc2

March 11th, 2010, 04:47 AM

With all the interesting discussion going on here, I belive people are all getting frustrated with the 'almost there' messages from Vetter. I think if he would have said 'the funding is just not there now and we don't know when it will be but we will keep working on it' the expectations would be very different.

It seems like it has been going on for years, the 'just working on the final part..." process.

I personally can not stand seeing the big hole in the ground every time I walk downtown.

nowpc2

March 11th, 2010, 04:48 AM

On a related note, does anyone know if On Broadway will continue 'Leicht At Nite' this year? I am really hoping they will.

GBSurveyor

March 11th, 2010, 06:15 AM

I expect next he might climb up to the top of the hollowed out portion of what's left of Younkers, chain himself up there to the old water tower and refuse to come down until the developments gets done. He could eat pigeons. Tower: If you do that, don't forget to bring a bullhorn so you can yell stuff down at people.

:rofl:
that is just too damn funny...

GBSurveyor

March 11th, 2010, 06:30 AM

As far a Watermark goes, I am assuming that Mr. Vetter is doing all he can do to secure financing. It is a really complex project. The foundation is crap and the soils are crap, he wanted to tear the whole thing down and then decided to save some of it. I have to think that would hinder the flexability of the project. The way I see it is if there are other developers out there why havent they stepped up??? We can all bitch and bitch and bitch, but that does nothing, there were two tenants signed up which I hope they are still intersted, there is some residental and some commercial space which is still unsold. I am not a complete backer of this project, I think it can fly and I hope its close, but again I am not holding my breath after this reading the comments from Mr. Vetter in the PG

Vetter was cautious about giving a date for the start of construction but said it's possible the restaurant and museum could open in about a year.
"I'm trying not to get ahead of ourselves … as far as excitement or timeframes," he told authority members.

Is there much excitement left??

I am just waiting to ride the "pippen"

Danillo

March 11th, 2010, 06:30 PM

In case there's been any confusion, my previously posted thoughts on the ballpark and Vetter.

Very good news regarding the Bullfrogs. Hopefully the momentum will build from here. A spring start to construction seems really optimistic, but it would be great to see a game at the new ballpark in just 16 months or so.

I'll add to this that I still prefer the Joannes location, but since the 'frogs are interested in being downtown, I fully support that. I also think Royal has done great things with that team and with this plan, and I don't recall ever saying otherwise.

I think Vetter really means well, and I really hope things work out with this project, it's very important. I don't buy into any of the timelines anymore. They never pan out. I'm not saying that I think the project will happen or that it won't happen, but I'd be fooling myself to put much stock in the timelines anymore. I just really hope that something's happening by spring. That site is so vital for the CityDeck, and the Children's Museum is important to everything. I hope for the best.

I'll also reiterate my opposition to fake news stories.

eddyout

March 11th, 2010, 11:58 PM

'Leicht At Nite' will be continued this summer. Yippee! Those nights were a lot of fun last summer.

Tower Park

March 12th, 2010, 12:05 AM

So everyone lets just be . . . all sunshine and roses and never have a bad thought here again, the discussion should be stimulating and we will all feel good about oursleves in the end.

Groovy.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/flowerpower.jpg

Milley29

March 12th, 2010, 12:53 AM

I am as dissapointed as anyone with the glacier-like pace of the Watermark project, I can't fault Vetter for feeding the city council and us optimism. I'm sure it doesn't help sell units and get financial backing to be negative. His career is made on promoting these developments. In my mind I am still looking forward to seeing cranes on both sides of the river coming this summer.

Puant

March 12th, 2010, 04:38 AM

Anyone here know who took this picture? If so please email me at puant1@gmail.com
thanks!

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o52/Puant/Alpena-Night-MasonStreet.jpg

Bay2Bay

March 12th, 2010, 06:10 AM

^^ Thanks for posting that pic Puant. I don't know who took the pic but it does trigger a memory I had as a small boy, a couple of million years ago, sitting in the back seat of the family car waiting on the "old green metal" Walnut Street Bridge as a ship passed through. I remember people on the deck of the ship dressed in aloha shirts and waiving down at the people as they passed through. No, it wasn't a cruise ship -- it was a typical freighter. To this day it puzzles me to why they were dressed like that. But to a small kid it was quite exotic and brought home to me, even at that young age, how Green Bay was connected to the world by its great waterway.

Danillo

March 12th, 2010, 06:38 AM

Puant

March 13th, 2010, 04:49 AM

I can't wait to take some photos of ships passing by ShopKo Landing this summer. I'm sure they won't turn out as well as that picture, but that will be quite the vantage point for watching the ships pass. I think Chris Reed from stoss called it great urban theater, and it will be.

Yep, Shopko Landing will be awfully close to the ships passing. I am a bit concerned that one bow thruster mistake could lead to Shopko Landing getting wrecked.

Bay2Bay: Not long ago I was out at one of the local establishments and some 'drunken sailors' speaking mostly French were out as well. Turned out they really were sailors from an international ship that happened to be visiting down that night. Kinda cool.

Tower Park

March 13th, 2010, 05:13 AM

Anyone here know who took this picture? If so please email me at puant1@gmail.com
thanks!

Nope. But it's a great picture! Thought maybe you or Danillo took it.

Packers have a new throwback uniform (one on the right).

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/favre_1994throwback.jpg http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/Original.jpg

Just some of the downtown events scheduled this year. Lottsa new stuff! (May take a few seconds for each to download.)

www.downtowngreenbay.com/stpattysday

www.downtowngreenbay.com/greenparade

www.downtowngreenbay.com/dineonthedeck

www.downtowngreenbay.com/summerinthepark

www.downtowngreenbay.com/fridaysonthefox

www.downtowngreenbay.com/liveonmain

www.downtowngreenbay.com/leichtatnite

www.downtowngreenbay.com/baylakebanktallshipfestival

Tower Park

March 13th, 2010, 05:14 AM

From the March 9th Redevelopment Authority minutes:

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Update on WaterMark redevelopment project.

A motion was made by T. Weber and seconded by M. Milano to open the meeting for discussion. Motion carried.

John Vetter stated that the commitment letter was obtained from Calumet County State Bank a little over a week ago. This triggered the last two phases of their financing transaction, which has a component that is driven by WHEDA and the balance which is the legal orchestration between all the stakeholders and their legal entities. Over the next two weeks, WHEDA is assembling all of the due diligence information. Allison Swanson, Derek Lord, Kelly Denk, and two representatives from Ganther Construction met at Calumet County Bank yesterday and went through the delegation of the due diligence items from the commitment letter that need to be put together. If everything continues to go smoothly over the next two weeks with WHEDA, things will move into the last phase with the attorneys. The City, Calumet County Bank, WHEDA, and Vetter each have their own new market tax credit specialist attorney. They will take the next 6-8 weeks to finalize the deal. He estimated that if everything continues on schedule he would be fully funded with a closing between mid-May and the end of May. This would be the start of the project. He indicated that Jess Miller with Hagemeister Park is very excited and they both feel that starting this project in spring of 2010 has much better odds for project success than a year ago. They like the timing.

H. Maier asked about an anticipated groundbreaking. J. Vetter stated it is too soon to pick a date, but once they have the first or second meeting with all the attorneys they will have a better opportunity to talk about potential closing dates.

A. Swanson stated they have not been through a process like this with this detail and are not sure what to expect. They have gathered what information they can in terms of how it works. Our side doesn’t seem that complicated, but it is detail oriented.

J. Vetter stated that the two main anchor tenants, Hagemeister Park and the Children’s Museum, are in line.

H. Maier asked if they have continued to look for tenants for the Younker’s building.

J. Vetter stated they have a potential office tenant and a potential retail tenant that are interested. It helps to lock those relationships down once there are firm timelines, which is driven by construction start.

H. Maier asked what the construction timeline would be if they were able to start construction by June 1.

J. Vetter indicated that realistically the two anchor tenants could begin their build out starting December 1. He estimated about three months of work, which puts them opening around March or April.

D. Dallich asked if they have been progressing with submittals to the City for construction. J. Vetter said they just met with City officials and addressed submittal, storm water, and other issues.

D. Dallich asked for clarification on what is included in the scope of work and J. Vetter stated the entirety of the building from a shell and core perspective. It will include everything except the tenant build out spaces.

M. Milano asked for clarification on the use of the space.

J. Vetter stated the first floor, which is about 10,000 sq. ft., is retail with essentially three retail spaces that comprise the 10,000 sq. ft. The Children’s Museum and Hagemeister Park take up about 26,000 sq. ft. There are five floors above, with each floor plate at 15,000 sq. ft. Floors two, three, and four are earmarked as office and the upper two levels are seen as residential, but there is flexibility. The top two floors could be a second phase or if there is a high demand for office they could be converted into office as well.

J. Vetter stated there is more work every day and he is trying to be conservative as far as dates and timeframes and wants to just keep working hard to get the project done.

A motion was made by M. Milano and seconded by D. Dallich to return to regular order of business. Motion carried.

Mayor Schmitt commented that work is being done on this project every day. It’s been a tough project, but it is the right project. The commitment letter from the bank was very encouraging. We are closer than we’ve ever been, but not there yet.

GBSurveyor

March 13th, 2010, 05:15 AM

Bay2Bay: Not long ago I was out at one of the local establishments and some 'drunken sailors' speaking mostly French were out as well. Turned out they really were sailors from an international ship that happened to be visiting down that night. Kinda cool.

damn canadians...

Danillo

March 13th, 2010, 03:07 PM

Puant has a ship ever hit one of the bridges? I don't know and I'm curious now.

That a very, very positive update on the Watermark. Reads better in the minutes than in the P-G article. Oh how I hope it gets started this spring/summer.

Also, I did see last weekend that the old Flatley Park is filled with palates of the CityDeck pavers, presumably for the portion in front of the Watermark. It will be good to see that filling in. I wonder how much they can do ther before or during Watermark construction.

GBSurveyor

March 13th, 2010, 03:19 PM

Another intersting thing that I have heard is that the old wooden decking that was part of the river trail behind the lofts has found a new home, it will be a part of a section of the new baird creek trail being constructed from Danz Ave. to I43, spannig some wetland area. Good to see that this material is being reused.

Puant

March 13th, 2010, 05:08 PM

damn canadians...

They are 'international', just like we have our 'international' airport!

Puant has a ship ever hit one of the bridges? I don't know and I'm curious now.

It was more common years ago, doesn't happen as much anymore. I guess I'm not too worried about Shopko Landing...that said....

Here are some of most recent ship incidents I have heard of:

-One hit the old railroad trestle at the end of Porlier St. (http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#/jo39375nk7qpl7l5) Before this happened, here had been some talk of making that old swing bridge work again, and using that as a trail but then the ship hit it and wrecked it, plus then someone started it on fire. Now of course much of it has been removed and they have the new overlook there, but there are some who still want to remove the rest of it in order to allow easier passage of ships through it. I'd be a little said if the rest of it was removed, because it looks kinda cool, but it is one of the more narrow passages so I guess I could understand why if they did remove the rest of it.

-Maybe about 10 years ago, a ship was backing out of the GP slip and got caught in the current, putting it up against the other RR trestle farther south (http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#/ncq51sc9b2jdd50r). I don't think much damage occurred but from what I heard the tugboats had a heck of a time getting the ship away from it. This was something I heard, if anyone here wants to substantiate this story feel free to.

-Just a couple years ago I was walking over the Main St bridge and noticed the concrete on one of those large round protection piling things (http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#/r89g8m79qqwo3kym) was scraped up, this could only have been done by a large ship scraping it as it went through. The concrete scrapings are mostly gone now but if you walk over and look down on this one on the south side of the bridge you can still see what I mean. It's the one on the south side of the bridge, closest to the bridge just below that sidewalk bumpout overlook thing.

-Another time about 10 years ago a ship was turning in the East River turning basin and somehow got really close to the private yachts docked near there. The bow thruster and propeller wash really rocked the smaller boats around, I remember some people being upset by that.

So in the end I 'm not saying Shopko Landing is doomed, but I just don't think it's out of the question either.

Danillo

March 13th, 2010, 05:33 PM

^^ Thanks, interesting stuff. I'd think the bridge would protect the landing somewhat. Anyway, now I want to be down there sometime when a ship scrapes under Main St. That'd be interesting to see.

mgk920

March 13th, 2010, 10:03 PM

Packers have a new throwback uniform.
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/Original.jpg
That is an adaptation of their 1929 uniform, the circle and numbers were enlarged from the original design to comply with current NFL uniform rules. It will also come with khaki pants. The Packers won their first NFL championship in 1929.

Have the Packers unveiled the helmet design for that uniform yet?

Mike

Green Bay Native

March 13th, 2010, 10:34 PM

^^

It will be a plain brown helmet, to best replicate the leather helmets they wore back then.

Tower Park

March 15th, 2010, 02:50 AM

Speaking of the Packers, Robert De Niro has been signed by ESPN Films to play the role of Vince Lombardi in a film about him. It's scheduled for release a week before the 2012 Super Bowl and covers the coach from his arrival here in 1959 to the 1967 Ice Bowl. Wouldn't it be great to have a premiere showing of the film at the Meyer or the Weidner or the Atrium? Sounds like a theatrical release, not a TV movie. Wonder how much or if any of it will be shot in Green Bay.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/87144922.html

More information on the first downtown spring/summer/fall public event of 2010, the new St. Patrick's Day celebration. The city in time wants to build this into a major downtown event each year.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100310/GPG0101/3100594/-1/archive

As the article below states, the Library Board is taking design proposals this year for a major renovation of the downtown library. Not sure if it would be a remodeling of the existiing building and/or involve any expansion.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100310/GPG0101/3100593/-1/archive

A bill under consideration in the Legislature would allow the creation of regional transit authorities. The news accounts I've read have said the legislation would allow RTA's for Milwaukee, Madison, La Crosse and the "Fox Cities." To me, the Fox Cities run from Kaukauna to Menasha and do not include Green Bay. So I'm confused about whether this legislation would allow a Green Bay RTA or not.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100310/GPG0101/3100611/-1/archive

FYI, the photo below (possibly from 1969) shows the Green Bay bus system as it was transitioning from its 1950s/60s model of bus on the left to its 1970s/80s model. If my memory is right, the old model ran on propane, not diesel. The color scheme in those days was pale yellow with red and silver trim, so this appears to have been taken when Wisconsin Public Service Corp. still ran the system. I grew up on Mather Street a block from Elmore School and what was then Tower Park (now Atkinson Park), so I took the Mather Street bus downtown many times - to ride the escalator at Woolworth's, the elevator in the Bellin Building, to buy 45 rpm records at Stiller's music, and to eat at Chili John's, kitty corner from the Hotel Northland. I wonder - when the time is right and there'd be a good location - if Chili John's could be coaxed to move back downtown again or open a second location there.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/4012483135_f19dbbdbce1.jpg

Danillo

March 15th, 2010, 05:57 AM

^^ I want Chili John's to reopen downtown next to Krolls next to Sammys Pizza. All the grease you can eat! All classic Green Bay places that would be great to have (back) downtown. Dang, now I'm hungry.

dmsklutz

March 15th, 2010, 07:33 AM

quote: He could eat pigeons.

Actually there are many more seagulls... :)

Be aware starting tomorrow (Monday March 15th) the city will be shooting off fireworks to prevent the gulls from roosting on the top of the old mall (and Baylake Bank). Too bad... maybe the weight of the gulls will cause the dumb thing to collapse... hehe

At least the last last year the dive bombers were mostly prevented from roosting in the downtown and plastering the sidewalks, buildings and people with "presents" from above.

mgk920

March 15th, 2010, 09:14 AM

gbmphillips

March 16th, 2010, 03:19 AM

GBSurveyor

March 16th, 2010, 05:16 AM

Reading about the upcoming events and the only one I see that I would not attend is the Fridays on the Fox, from their webpage, No carry-ins. Check back at this site for a full schedule and vendor lineup!

Bullcrap, the broadwalk is for the public not controlled by a small little group of downtown people. If a family wants to bring in their own family coolers to help in these tought times they should be allowed too, instead of paying the outrageous prices these vendors charge, familes deserve better quality then what these vendores provide.

I don't really like the concept of restricting the public, however I don't think that there should be a bunch of drunks with coolers hanging around causing disruptions, we can leave that for the Washington St. bars later on... I dont think that the creators want to start this out as another drunk fest. Not sure, just my thoughts.

Night Rider

March 16th, 2010, 08:07 PM

pgrimmer

March 16th, 2010, 10:44 PM

Former segio's restaurant on university, to be the new Lee's Cantonese (same owner but under a new name).

Morse

March 17th, 2010, 02:16 AM

I hear Schreiber Foods is looking for a entire new campus, possibly combining their office/production facility. From what I hear they are developing plans for a city option and one with a country setting. Sounds like they are loyal to Green Bay and want to stay, but are considering other possibilities. It sure would be nice to see a huge employee base like they have relocate to downtown Green Bay. The gap they leave if they completely pull out of Green Bay would be huge. Anyone else hear anything regarding Schreiber Foods?

On a side note, I guess they make most of the cheese for Mcdonalds. Good for them.

Maybe the city could recruit them to the mall site? I am not even sure if T Wall still has a planning option for that or not. I would think that would be a pretty attractive client and would go a long ways in new development such as stores, new/more living options on the east side of the river and west side (Larsen Green). I know this has been talked about in the past here but it would be nice to have/had some more of the major area businesses in the central city and this would be a great move.

Has anyone heard anything regarding the Daily Planet site other than the Meyer Board gave the developer (Steve Seidl) to April 15th have leases secured? This seems to be pretty quiet :?

When is the next get together going to be? I think that it would be cool to hear from Jeff Royle or Christopher Naumann (Broadway's new director). Ideas?

jerkylips999

March 17th, 2010, 06:15 AM

Maybe the city could recruit them to the mall site? I am not even sure if T Wall still has a planning option for that or not. I would think that would be a pretty attractive client and would go a long ways in new development such as stores, new/more living options on the east side of the river and west side (Larsen Green). I know this has been talked about in the past here but it would be nice to have/had some more of the major area businesses in the central city and this would be a great move.

Has anyone heard anything regarding the Daily Planet site other than the Meyer Board gave the developer (Steve Seidl) to April 15th have leases secured? This seems to be pretty quiet :?

When is the next get together going to be? I think that it would be cool to hear from Jeff Royle or Christopher Naumann (Broadway's new director). Ideas?

offices I could see, but is a production facility really something that is a good strategic fit downtown? If it was a company new to the area I think you could make the argument, in terms of getting an employee base that will want to live downtown, near work - but in this case, people are already established somewhere in the city. I don't know. I mean, downtown would be fine, but I dont' think the mall site is a good fit. Just my opinion..

Navarino Rezdnt

March 17th, 2010, 06:47 AM

offices I could see, but is a production facility really something that is a good strategic fit downtown?

If you take a look at their current production facility (http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#5003/o=&a=&s=w/5872/style=auto&lat=rdhmtj&lon=7p1cns&alt=143.673126&z=17&pid=5874), you can see the amount of physical space that it takes up is quite a bit. The big square building on the right is cold storage and shipping. Corporate offices would take even more space. It appears to me that there's no way a complete facility would fit downtown. Do we want 18-wheelers downtown?

gbmphillips

March 17th, 2010, 03:11 PM

I don't really like the concept of restricting the public, however I don't think that there should be a bunch of drunks with coolers hanging around causing disruptions, we can leave that for the Washington St. bars later on... I dont think that the creators want to start this out as another drunk fest. Not sure, just my thoughts.
You think because a family brings in a cooler that has snacks, juice, water, soda and a couple of beers that cost a total of what a couple of bottles of water will be a drunk fest? I know if I had a family I would rather pay $10.00 an have a cooler full of supples instead of paying $10.00 and have two bottles of water and a bag of roasted peanuts to share with the family.

jerkylips999

March 17th, 2010, 04:49 PM

anyone else see the story on fox 11 last night that Chris Wery is trying to get Guy booted from the city council?

GBSurveyor

March 17th, 2010, 04:53 PM

You think because a family brings in a cooler that has snacks, juice, water, soda and a couple of beers that cost a total of what a couple of bottles of water will be a drunk fest? I know if I had a family I would rather pay $10.00 an have a cooler full of supples instead of paying $10.00 and have two bottles of water and a bag of roasted peanuts to share with the family.

What I think, is that the "No Carry In" rule is not in place to prevent the families, but to prevent those 1% of people that ruin it for everyone, take for example celebrate America fest, I have heard of more people that prefer to go to Appleton, because they have a no carry in policy and therefore don't have to be exposed to all the stupid, obnoxious, drunken people, that sit and swear. I don't see it as that they are against families, or want to break everyone's wallet, they just want a neutral environment, free of excessive chaos, but again, that's my opinion. Plus we always carry snacks in when they are not allowed.

gbmphillips

March 17th, 2010, 04:53 PM

anyone else see the story on fox 11 last night that Chris Wery is trying to get Guy booted from the city council?

Wery, Zima, Vanderlest and on and on they are all typical politicians, childish and petty.

Geography Teacher

March 17th, 2010, 06:57 PM

If you take a look at their current production facility (http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#5003/o=&a=&s=w/5872/style=auto&lat=rdhmtj&lon=7p1cns&alt=143.673126&z=17&pid=5874), you can see the amount of physical space that it takes up is quite a bit. The big square building on the right is cold storage and shipping. Corporate offices would take even more space. It appears to me that there's no way a complete facility would fit downtown. Do we want 18-wheelers downtown?

Would there be room on the Larsen Green site? I believe that the concept does not call for industrial use, but perhaps a significant mixed-use facility such as this would be acceptable in order to keep Schreiber downtown?

No, we don't want industry and 18-wheelers in the middle of downtown (e.g., the mall site), but the Larsen Green site would allow for easy-in/easy-out truck access via Velp Avenue to Atkinson Drive and I-43. This entry point to downtown is underutilized anyway so I don't think the driving public would be too inconvenienced.

Green Bay 4 Life

March 17th, 2010, 07:22 PM

It is my understanding they are looking at all options. One option would be to consolidate their corporate offices and have a small portion of a new building be manufacturing (which would be a use that would fit in downtown) we aren't talking about 18 wheelers. Another option is yes to consolidate all operations located in Green Bay on a campus like site. However, that is the larger of the two "possible" investments as they have plants elsewhere so it is not nessecary to do that here as well.

jerkylips999

March 17th, 2010, 07:32 PM

Would there be room on the Larsen Green site? I believe that the concept does not call for industrial use, but perhaps a significant mixed-use facility such as this would be acceptable in order to keep Schreiber downtown?

No, we don't want industry and 18-wheelers in the middle of downtown (e.g., the mall site), but the Larsen Green site would allow for easy-in/easy-out truck access via Velp Avenue to Atkinson Drive and I-43. This entry point to downtown is underutilized anyway so I don't think the driving public would be too inconvenienced.

This got me thinking - what about that abandoned warehouse space on north broadway? I'm thinking of the one they were tearing down because homeless people were living in it - just north of mather.

Tower Park

March 17th, 2010, 08:48 PM

The corporate headquarters for Schreiber Foods, Inc. is currently located in the seven-story U.S. Bank building on Pine Street (photo below). In a way, Schreiber has a quiet presence in Green Bay. I hope the corporate headquarters can remain downtown if the company is thinking of some kind of new location here.

Depending on your source, Schreiber is the largest or second largest privately held cheese company in the world. It's said that some 90% of cheeseburgers in the U.S. are made with Schreiber products, as the company has supplied cheese slices for 17 of the top 20 hamburger chains (including McDonald's). It's also the second largest producer of cream cheese in the U.S. (behind Kraft). For labeled cheese, Schreiber mainly produces for other companies instead of selling its own brands. In 1992 Walmart became a customer. Schreiber was founded in Green Bay in 1945, has production and distribution facilities in nine states, and, according to various sources, operations directly or through joint ventures in Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, India and China. Its expansion in this country over the years has come in part from buying up competitors. The Schreiber website says the company has more than 5,000 employees at all its facilities and annual sales of more than $3 billion.

www.schreiberfoods.com/schreiberweb/staticcontent/general/history.aspx?MenuID=History
www.answers.com/topic/schreiber-foods-inc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schreiber_Foods

Photo by a Menasha business called "View From Above ... Aerial Photography"

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/USBankJPG.jpg

Tower Park

March 18th, 2010, 01:05 AM

FYI. Here are two more aerial photos from View From Above. The first shows Lombardi Avenue in its entirety from 41 to the Fox River. The second is the American Medical Security headquarters — a health insurance company — in Howard. Like what's now Humana in De Pere and the corporate headquarters of Schneider National in Ashwaubenon, AMS is one of those new large local office buildings that downtown Green Bay wasn't able to attract in recent years.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/LombardiAvenue-1JPG.jpghttp://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/AMSLargeJPG.jpg

P.S. Wouldn't that be something if AMS, Humana and Schneider had all built downtown? The skyline would have a much different look — more befitting a city and MSA the size of Green Bay — and there'd be much more downtown commercial activity.

A.P.S. If the Schreiber story turns out to be true, seems to me the issue would be whether the company pulls its corporate headquarters from downtown and relocates its offices somewhere else. There'd also be the question of whether any relocation of facilities would be in the city or outside its boundaries. All this information is new and a bit murky now.

Puant

March 18th, 2010, 05:41 AM

Would there be room on the Larsen Green site? I believe that the concept does not call for industrial use, but perhaps a significant mixed-use facility such as this would be acceptable in order to keep Schreiber downtown?

No, we don't want industry and 18-wheelers in the middle of downtown (e.g., the mall site), but the Larsen Green site would allow for easy-in/easy-out truck access via Velp Avenue to Atkinson Drive and I-43. This entry point to downtown is underutilized anyway so I don't think the driving public would be too inconvenienced.

Larsen Green also has the rail link. To me, on first thought, it seems like a pretty good fit...the south end of the site could be more corporate with perhaps a nice downtown HQ, while the north end could be more production-oriented with the transportation links.

It's maybe not quite what the vision of Larsen Green was at the beginning, but I like the concept so far..... I'd like to hear more perspectives on this.

Navarino Rezdnt

March 18th, 2010, 08:22 AM

Larsen Green also has the rail link. To me, on first thought, it seems like a pretty good fit...the south end of the site could be more corporate with perhaps a nice downtown HQ, while the north end could be more production-oriented with the transportation links.

It's maybe not quite what the vision of Larsen Green was at the beginning, but I like the concept so far..... I'd like to hear more perspectives on this.

When businesses use rail transport, product gets loaded into a truck trailer and that rides piggy back on a flatbed rail car. The Intermodal Terminal on S. Broadway is close and would be the link in them using rail.

I would assume that moving freight by rail would take longer and that would add cost because cheese being a perishable item it needs to be kept cold.

Let me share some experiences with living near industry. Right now it's just after midnight and I'm sitting with the window still open because of the warm weather. I'm about 2,500 feet from Geargia Pacific Day St mill and like always, there is a low hum in the air, they must have all the paper machines going. And when one of the paper machines goes down they need to reduce pressure in the boiler by letting off steam for five minutes or so making this big SSHHOOSH sound.

I lived in Denmark for a year on a cul de sac next to Land O'Lakes (http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#5003/0.6002=q:305+S+Wall+St,+Denmark,+WI++54208:lat:44.5161964712989:long:-88.0064699025776:nosp:0:adj:0&o=&a=0/5872/style=auto&lat=rcqttx&lon=7pdzs0&alt=230.772141&z=17&pid=5874) cheese factory. Cheese factories are noisy and occasionally the gagging stench of cheese whey wafts through the community.

We should forget about the cheese factory DT and stick to the vision of bringing people downtown to enjoy the river.

titletown

March 19th, 2010, 01:59 AM

Great news! Did anyone go to the St. Patrick's Day parade & festivities downtown last night? I would have if I wasn't already in Madison for my Godson's birthday.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100318/GPG0101/100318071/1978/Green-Bay-signs-deal-to-buy-Zippin-Pippin-roller-coaster

GBFAN

March 19th, 2010, 03:40 AM

I dont understand the relationship to downtown ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A lady walked into a drugstore and told the pharmacist she needed some cyanide right away. The pharmacist naturally was concerned by such a request and asked, "Why in the world do you need cyanide?"The lady then explained that she needed it to poison her husband. The pharmacist's eyes got big and he said, "I can't give you cyanide to kill your husband! That's against the law! I'll lose my license. They'll throw both of us in jail and all kinds of bad things will happen! Absolutely not???you cannot have any cyanide!"TudorU-BoatVacheron ConstantinThe lady reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of her husband in bed with the pharmacist's wife.The pharmacist looked at the picture and replied, "Well, now. You didn't tell me you had a prescription

Puant

March 19th, 2010, 05:03 AM

^^Nothing. Just spam.

I hear what you're saying, Navarino. However the north end of the "Larsen Green" site is already pretty industrial, as it is immediately next to Western Lime and St Mary's Cement and just across the river from Georgia-Pacific. The area already has the sounds and smells of manufacturing...(which reminds me, when I first moved here and was smelling the summertime stench of Georgia Pacific south in Allouez, I asked a neighbor what the hell was with that stench?...He replied, "It's the smell of jobs". My response was, "Why not create some new jobs by hiring someone to make it less smelly?" I guess I'm cocky.)

Well anyway, whether or not Schreiber moves their production facility, whatever...but I do hope they keep their HQ downtown and hopefully they build that dream kick-ass building that we've all been hoping for.

Speaking of Schreiber. Someone mentioned they make most of the cheese for McDonalds. Any idea what they do to the cheese to give it a one-year shelf life (not refrigerated) like this happy meal? (http://consumerist.com/2010/03/this-1-year-old-happy-meal-has-aged-surprisingly-well.html)

Uhhhh Marquette....what are you guys doing???

Jschmuck

March 19th, 2010, 05:09 AM

The last thing anyone wants are trucks going through residential areas to get to customers. Loud, dirty and congestion.

Headquarters must stay downtown and shipping/receiving facility must be by easy access of highway/railway without affecting residential areas.

Navarino Rezdnt

March 19th, 2010, 12:39 PM

I guess trucks don't necessarily have to travel Mather and Velp but instead go North on Broadway to Prairie Ave, to Bylsby Ave, to Hurlbut St to I-43. That route goes through industrial instead of the residential area of Mather and Velp.

I still don't believe a production facility near downtown is a good idea. An HQ in a 10-12 story building in East DT would be great. Schreiber may be looking to build a plant that has increased production over its one on Mills St. In that case the lure of more land for less money outside Green Bay becomes greater. I think a new facility in the industrial park out near the town of Scott is the place within city limits that they may be referring to. More land means the HQ could be built with fewer stories but a larger footprint. Remember that costs go up the higher you go vertically.

Belgioioso Cheese has two newer facilities (http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#5003/0.6002=q:denmark+wi:lat:44.5277800281081:long:-88.0120773314914:nosp:0:adj:0&1.6002=q:bylsby+ave+green+bay+wi:lat:44.265908146097:long:-88.402000427:nosp:0:adj:0&o=&a=0:1/5872/style=auto&lat=rcszhp&lon=7p8ccz&alt=241.094635&z=17&pid=5874) just outside Denmark. (By the Circle T Tap) The Sothern one on the map is just a couple years old. (They also have factories in Glenmore and Freedom.)
These are good examples of what newer plants require for space. I just can’t see something like that being DT.

Navarino Rezdnt

March 19th, 2010, 01:14 PM

Press Gazette - March 18, 2010:

Survey deals with statewide rail plan

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has developed a brief online questionnaire for the public on the future of rail in Wisconsin.

To take the survey, go to http://doa.wi.gov/DOTSurveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=860K984.

For information on the rail plan, write to: Wisconsin Rail Plan 2030, WisDOT Bureau of Planning & Economic Development, P.O. Box 7913, Madison, WI 53707; call (608) 266-8108; e-mail RailPlan2030 @dot.wi.gov; or visit the Web site at www.wisconsinrailplan.gov

Danillo

March 20th, 2010, 12:35 AM

Regarding Schreiber, if I'm looking out for the City of Green Bay, and a company like that is looking at new facilities, my overriding goal is to keep the company in the city limits. Fortunately Green Bay has industrial park space as well as urban space, so there are options. But either way, the #1 goal is to try to help Schreiber find a site that will suit their business needs best. Of course, I think for the city the best result is to have an expanded Schreiber presence downtown as that would (I'm guessing without any facts to back this up) provide the greatest gains to the city in terms of related economic activity. As such there may be a package the city could put together to make up the costs downtown that wouldn't exist on a greenfield. That's what TIF is for anyway. But if Schreiber was committed to having production and HQ in the same location, trying to do that downtown would be putting a square peg in a round hole... I just don't see it. In that case I'd be perfectly happy to see them move to the new industrial park if that's what it took to keep them in the city.

Tower Park

March 20th, 2010, 02:27 AM

Some really good posts here on Schreiber from Navarino Resident, Danillo and others. On the cheese front, a $47 million upgrade and expansion of a cheese plant in Appleton was announced Thursday. The article indicates the cheese industry in Wisconsin is doing well these days.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100319/GPG03/3190606/1247/Foremost-Farms-receives--3.1M-grant

Brown County Board approves construction by the Army Corps of Engineers of a 12-foot-wide causeway from the Bay Beach shoreline to Renard Isle. Causeway will be used in the short term for trucks to haul materials to the island to cap it. No sediment has been deposited on the 55-acre island since the early '90s; the trucking of capping materials is scheduled for completion in 2013. The city has been thinking about the possibility of eventually developing a recreational area on the island once the capping is done, but there are no plans for that now.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100319/GPG0101/3190629/1978/Brown-County-Board-approves-causeway-to-Renard-Isle

Construction started this week on the Military Avenue rehab. No roundabouts, but the street will be reduced from six to four lanes with more greenspace.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100316/GPG0101/3160532/-1/archive

Guess the arrival of the first ship in the Port of Green Bay this shipping season and win a prize. I clicked on the twitter link, though, and it didn't work for me. By the way, the Port of Green Bay has an interesting website with a live webcam — plus an image gallery & slideshow (under "Photo Gallery").

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100317/GPG0101/3170644/-1/archive
http://twitter.com/GreenBayVisit/statuses/10036596068
http://portofgreenbay.com/OneColumn.aspx?id=1368#
www.portofgreenbay.com/

Tower Park

March 20th, 2010, 02:29 AM

Green Bay's first annual St. Patrick's Day celebration downtown went well. Great weather and some 500 people turned out in the CityDeck area. In something like two years, the day will fall on a Saturday, so the city is expecting a big increase in attendance that year. Here are some photos by M.P. King of the Press-Gazette. That's Mark Murphy from the Packers and the mayor in the chariot (actually a pedecab).

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100318/GPG0101/3180610/-1/archive

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-38-9.jpghttp://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-39-9.jpghttp://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-42-3.jpghttp://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-41-4.jpghttp://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww339/goetscha/bilde-40-6.jpg

Danillo

March 20th, 2010, 05:46 AM

Question about PCBs related to the Raynard Isle situation. PCBs are toxic, right? But at the same time, don't you have to ingest them for it to be harmful? Wasn't then main issue that eating fish from the river could cause problems? I mean, it's not like you want to roll around in a big pile of PCBs, but once the Island is capped it would be safe to be on, right? I don't really know, that's why I ask. Some people talk about that island like it's radioactive and that walking on it would give you cancer. While I think it really sucks that they decided to pile all the pollutants just off of a public beach, my understanding was that it wouldn't be unsafe to walk on it, especially if it's capped. Anyone know more?

Navarino Rezdnt

March 20th, 2010, 12:09 PM

Fox River PCB Update (http://wpt2.org/npa/IW814foxpcbupdate.cfm), February 4, 2010 from Wisconsin Public Television's "In Wisconsin" show.

I've got some other info to share, an e-mail with this attachment was forwarded to me a couple weeks ago.

Clay Cap For Renard Island
The Nicolet Drive Neighborhood Association is trying to get a clay cap for Renard Island
in an effort to reduce the leakage of PCB’s and Heavy Metals. All the Landfills
that have taken PCB’s from the Fox River Clean-up (such as the Georgia Pacific Landfill)
and all current Landfills taking PCB dredging (such as Calumet County Landfill) are
Facilities that are totally enclosed on the top bottom and sides with clay to prevent
leakage from these landfills. Renard Island however is not built to these standards
because it was built before the construction laws were written. So when the DNR
wrote these laws they decided to write a Grandfather Clause that allowed these
Facilities to use a different type of cap. According to the DNR Codes these Grandfathered
Landfills can use a soil cap with a permeability of 0.0001 cm/sec , but the new
Landfills today must use a clay cap with a permeability of 0.0000001 cm/sec. So
What does this mean? It means that 7,199,300 gallons of water per year will penetrate
Into Renard, make contact with the contaminants and then leak out the sides. If we
Install a clay cap we can reduce that water into Renard down to 100,208 gallons per
year or a reduction of 7,099,092 gallons per year less water per year making contact
with the contaminants and then leaking out of Renard. We are only asking to the
same level of safety that everyone else gets at their Landfills.

The city of Green Bay (who is not currently an owner of Renard Island) would like to
develop Renard into a future expansion of Bay Beach. They have indicated an interest
in capping the Island with clay and the City has clay that they can provide. Brown
County (the current owner of Renard with the Army Corp) does not want to install
a clay cap, they want to use Outer Harbor Dredgings taken from the Shipping Channel
that would comply with the permeability of 0.0001 cm/sec. This material as identified
by Army Corp core samples is 65 % to 98% sand which would allow all this water to
get into Renard and leak out the sides.

The right thing to do is to ask for the same protection that everyone else is getting
at the other Fox River Clean-up Landfills. By signing our Petition we are hoping to get
Brown County to change their design to a Clay Cap.

As of February 14, 2010 we have 3 Neighborhoods that have agreed to get signatures
Asking for a clay cap, they are the Nicolet Drive, East Shore Drive and Lake Largo. The
current Neighborhoods considering this same effort are Bay Highlands and Schmidt Park.

The e-mail had the following in the text body:

Wednesday February 17, 2010 11:59 PM CST

Attached you will find a document I prepared for the Red Smith Neighborhood. If

you would like to meet one day (morning, day or evening) at my home to review

some of my data, please give me a call. At the Lake Largo meeting I indicated that

I have a copy of Army Corp core sample analysis for Renard Island. These core samples

looked at the Concentration of Contaminants in the soil of Renard Island, here are the

values for PCB’s:

1. Core Sample CDF 1 : 1.88 ppm

2. Core Sample CDF 2 : 4.46 ppm

3. Core Sample CDF 3A: 8.47 ppm

4. Core Sample CDF 3B: 7.90 ppm

5. Core Sample CDF 4A: 43.48 ppm

6. Core Sample CDF 4B: 19.40 ppm

7. Average of the 6 Core Samples: 14.265 ppm

ppm – Parts per million or 1,0 lb of PCB’s per million pounds of soil

I would like to point out the value of 43.48 ppm. In the State of Wisconsin you “cannot”

landfill PCB’s over 50 ppm. All the Fox River Dredgings that are over 50 ppm are being

trucked to Chicago. To Landfill PCB’s over 50 ppm you must have an approved Hazardous

Waste Landfill.

The amount of dredged material currently in Renard Island is around 31,145,400 cubic

feet or 2,335,905,000 lbs. A crude estimate of the amount of PCB’s in Renard Island

could be calculated using the above average concentration of 14.265 ppm:

Crude Estimate of PCB’s in Renard = 14.265 lb PCB/1,000,000 lb soil x 2,335,905,000 lb soil

= 33,321.68 lbs of PCB’s

Another fact that I discussed at the Lake Largo meeting is the flow of PCB’s down the Fox

River and into the Bay of Green Bay. I have a copy of a EPA Superfund document

(dated July 1997) that said the flow of PCB’s down the Fox River is 600 lbs per year and that

The total amount that flowed from the Fox River into the Bay and Lake Michigan is

estimated at 160,000 lbs. My estimate of the flow of PCB’s down the Fox River per year

came to 637 lbs/year using water concentration data and annual water flow data for the

Fox River. Keep in mind that the DNR estimate of total PCB’s discharged into the Fox River

is 691,370 lbs (313,600 kg).

No one to date has tried to determine where all the PCB’s are. The DNR & EPA did

do estimates of the amount in the Fox River and the amount in the Bay but that is

all. So I decided to do my own crude mass balance analysis which is listed below:

1. PCB’s Discharged Into The Fox River (Per the DNR) 691,370 lbs

2. PCB’s In The Fox River (Per DNR) 65,819 lbs

3. PCB’s in the Bay of Green Bay (per DNR) 152,846 lbs

4. PCB’s Into Lake Michigan 12,690 lbs

5. PCB’s Volatilized From The Bay Into The Air 52,311 lbs

6. PCB’s In Renard Island 33,322 lbs

7. Unknown Location of Remaining PCB’s 374,382 lbs

As you can see from my above mass balance we do not know where the remaining

374,382 lbs of PCB’s are. The planned removal of PCB’s from the Fox River was

64,505 lbs (29,259 kg) but that now has been slightly reduced due to the planned

capping of PCB’s in the river.

If you have any questions or would just like to meet to see my data, please feel

free to call.

William G. Acker

Acker & Associates

P.O. Box 8695

Green Bay, Was 54308-8695

Phone: 920-465-3548