GREEN BAY,WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A $50 million financial plan appears to be in place to transform public housing in Green Bay.
The centerpiece of the project is the eight-story Mason Manor apartments on W. Mason Street.
Residents of the 52-year-old building have been hearing about a major redevelopment plan for at least the past four years.
“Can hardly wait,” said George Nemitz, a resident of Mason Manor.
An approximately 15-month construction project is now scheduled to start in October after a complex financial deal has been put together, involving low-income housing tax credits from WHEDA and historic tax credits
“Every unit is going to have a touch to it and a remodel,” said Cheryl Renier-Wigg, Green Bay’s deputy development director. “The common spaces will be remodeled. We’re moving laundry rooms around, so there will be more accessibility for tenants on floors. It’s a complete overhaul.”
The wait list to move in at Mason Manor has been at least a few months for the past few years. Knowing construction is coming, they haven’t been filling units as they become vacant. There are about 30 units sitting empty right now, and they will come in handy as soon as construction starts.
“We are actually doing this on a quadrant basis,” said Ted Matkom of Gorman and Company as he explained the construction process during a Green Bay Housing Authority meeting. “So, it’s like we go quadrant by quadrant and we use these 30 units, which actually will grow over time, to accommodate the people who are moving out of the quadrant.”
“Yeah, that is going to be kind of difficult, but we’ll work through it,” said Annette Smith, a Mason Manor resident.
Construction is estimated to cost about $22.8 million or about $150,000 for each of the 152 units.
About another $1.5 million will be spent upgrading 48 other public housing units scattered across the city. That is currently pegged at about $38,000 per unit.
“We did this in Wausau at Riverview Towers, and they’re just like it’s a dream,” said Matkom. “We had this like 1971 building that was an absolute disaster. We changed all the plumbing, all the electrical, all the heating and they’re just like running like it’s a smooth bus.”
The Green Bay Housing Authority approved the financial framework on Thursday, allowing it to be sent to the federal government for its approval.
Click here to view the executive financial summary of the Mason Manor and “scattered sites” redevelopment plan.
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