GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The City of Green Bay is planning to spend more than it originally planned on design work for the public portion of the Shipyard project.
City staff members say they need to redo design work after Merge Urban Development’s 225-unit apartment project replaced Breakthrough Fuel’s new headquarters in March of last year.
The city is planning to spend an additional $285,000.
Staff says the original budget for design work on the public portion of the project was $1 million.
The city’s Redevelopment Authority signed off on the extra expense on Tuesday, despite board members questioning the price of the work.
Construction on a public path or boardwalk, a floating dock for boaters, and a kayak launch is expected to start early next year. The development agreement with Merge requires the work to be done by December of next year.
A second phase requires the city to put in a great lawn for concerts and events, a dog park, an urban beach, playground, and splash pad. The last phase includes a plaza with permanent or seasonal structures for food, beverage, retail, or recreation.
City staff says it plans to look for ways to save money to make up for the extra work that needs to be done.
Neil Stechschulte, the city’s economic development director, says considerable savings should be seen when redevelopment of the former Badger Sheet Metal site is removed from the city’s design work.
As FOX 11 reported in May, 238 apartment units are tentatively proposed for the nearby former Badger Sheet Metal site. Developer Impact Seven is pursuing the project, which is valued between $45 and $50 million.
The Impact Seven apartment proposal would be geared toward individuals and families making average income for the area. Construction would be completed by the end of 2023.
Grants are also being pursued for the overall Shipyard project. $1.6 million has already been secured to help offset the city’s costs, according to city staff.
It’s been more than three years since the city council authorized $10 million for the public portion of the Shipyard. However, little noticeable work has been done on the site so far.
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