PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A grassroots effort to revitalize the S. Broadway and State Street area of Green Bay known as the Shipyard District has received a major boost.
The nonprofit is officially partnering with the city of Green Bay as it’s recognized as the city’s newest district.
About four years ago, a group of business and property owners formed a nonprofit — The Shipyard District, Inc. They wanted to work to revitalize the area north of Lombardi Ave., but south of Mason St. from Ashland Ave. to the Fox River, on Green Bay’s west side — which consists of residential, commercial and industrial properties.
“By contributing to the maintenance, development and promotion of the business area, Shipyard District, Inc. has furthered the interests of Green Bay businesses, improved the lives of residents and contributed to a complete downtown destination,” said Tarl Knight, director of Shipyard District, Inc.
Since its inception, Shipyard District, Inc. says its events — which include All Bands on Deck, the city’s largest music festival — have helped to bring about $500,000 of economic impact to area businesses.
The district is proving itself as a changemaker, as the Green Bay City Council recently voted to officially recognize the Shipyard District as a business improvement district.
“To create those more direct connections, I think is really helpful when you’re trying to plan out the future of a business corridor or think about the future of a neighborhood. It helps to add more coherence to the conversations, which is really helpful from the city’s point of view,” said Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich.
Now that it’s officially recognized as a district by the city, the Shipyard District can work closely with the mayor and his administration on improvement projects.
In the short-term, Shipyard District members are pushing for possible streetscape improvements, like the addition of bike lanes and street furniture.
Knight said, “Making sure that there’s access to the river, making sure we have a comfortable place for people to be able to throw trash away with receptacles, to sit down with benches and to bring their families down here, and really enjoy all the things the Shipyard District have to offer.”
Long-term improvement goals include the relocation of the riverfront coal piles, which sit in the Shipyard District, along with the possible reconfiguration of Mason Street.
These are all projects the Shipyard District will be a part of as an official partner with the city on improvements.
Ahead of the NFL Draft, the Shipyard District will be adding light post banners and signs to help identify it, as businesses are planning live music and other events for Draft attendees.
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