GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The latest episode in Green Bay’s increasingly messy effort to renovate a downtown landmark.
Tensions on the rise again Wednesday night at City Hall over the $44 million Hotel Northland renovation.
Mayor Jim Schmitt and a developer say a financial deal is in place to finish construction. But some council members say they’ll believe it when the deal is final.
Threats and accusations of lawsuits, lies, and general wrong made up two hours of Hotel Northland discussion.
The arguing, which has gone on for the past several months, has coincided with a search for money to finish the 93-year-old hotel.
Schmitt tells WLUK the money search is over, with a junior lender for the project stepping up to pay for the hotel’s completion.
“It’s confidential because we still have some work to do, but it’s going to happen”
Work has stopped on the hotel since the former top lender pulled its $12.8 million loan late last year.
Schmitt says 100 workers will be back on site May 1st when the new financial deal is finalized.
But some council members, like Tom DeWane, aren’t buying it.
“They’ve had something in the works for how long now? I haven’t seen anything”
Keith Harenda claims to be the Northland’s sole owner. His former partner, Mike Frantz, argues he still owns 50 percent. If a judge rules in Frantz’s favor, Schmitt warns the bank won’t provide the necessary money.
“It will not be what the city wants to hear”
The earliest the ownership battle could be decided is next Friday, April 14th.
The city council did move to have city staff collect three quotes for what it would cost to audit the city’s finances in the hotel.
A spokesperson for Harenda says the new financial deal would allow the hotel to still open this fall.
