PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The coal piles saga continues in Green Bay as the city looks to move forward with plans for potential redevelopment of the site the piles currently sit on.
But those plans could be for nothing if a deal isn’t reached with the county to relocate the piles.
City leaders remain committed to redeveloping the Mason Street site owned by C. Reiss Terminals.
“Bars, restaurants, other commercial uses. You know, what you see as you move farther north up the Fox River,” said Mayor Eric Genrich.
The city’s Redevelopment Authority (RDA) approved an agreement for what could be done with the site.
In this agreement, the city would be able to help guide redevelopment on the northern 10 acres of the Mason Street site.
C. Reiss would maintain light industrial use on the remaining 25 acres to the south.
“Really, would still reside with C Reiss, right? What we’re doing here is changing the zoning,” said Genrich.
But, this agreement hinges on C Reiss and Brown County making a deal to move the coal piles to the former Pulliam Power Plant site, two miles north, near the mouth of the Fox River.
County Board chair Pat Buckley says the county has yet to hear from C Reiss as of late.
Last month, the Port of Green Bay put out a Request For Information (RFI) to gauge interest of other developers for the Pulliam site and at least one company reached out, according to port director Dean Haen.
Genrich indicated C Reiss plans on responding to the county’s RFI.
The deadline is noon Friday, Feb. 14th.
“It’s clear, based on C Reiss’ response to the RFI that they’re still really committed to this project. I think the county too, you know, wants to see this happen in some way shape or form and so we’re just, really pleased that C Reiss continues to be at the table,” said Genrich.
The coal piles would take up about one-third of the Pulliam Plant site.
The piles have been at risk of not moving, after the Brown County Board of Supervisors approved lease terms that were not the same as what C. Reiss initially agreed to.
City leaders are hopeful there’s a path forward so they can bring new life along the Fox River at a site that a study shows has potential to generate about $150 million in new development.
“I do believe, that there’s a very strong desire, right? To do redevelopment on that site,” said Green Bay Common Council President, Brian Johnson at Tuesday’s RDA meeting.
The full common council will weigh in on the agreement, which was backed by the RDA, during their next meeting on March 4th.
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