VILLAGE OF ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) – It’s the first look at what the future could hold for the site of the Green Bay prison.
Residents of Allouez are showing their support to remove the prison and use the property in a more practical way.
Brown County and Village of Allouez officials say they are moving forward with putting together a proposal to remove the state prison for more profitable development.
“Green Bay Correctional Institution is a money pit. We are losing close to million dollars a month with that option,” says State Representative David Steffen.
He says closing the prison and using the land for something else would save taxpayers money and building a new prison on a different site would provide a safer environment for inmates and workers.
“Decommission the GBCI, provide a new modern safer facility in Brown County or a surrounding community and also unlock $60, $70, $80 million dollars of economic opportunity for the Brown County and Allouez community.”
Allouez Village President Jim Rafter says they are now getting help to see how the plan would benefit the Village financially.
“We brought it over to St. Norbert and they are currently conducting an economic impact study.”
Rafter says no matter what is built at the prison site, the historic features of the prison would be preserved.
He says this idea is not new.
“Ten years ago we asked for the prison to be closed and nothing happened.”
The Village of Allouez collected more than 1000 signed petitions from Brown County residents to move forward with the plan.
The Green Bay Correctional Institution needs $200 million in repairs if it stays in Allouez.
“We have some of the most valuable land in Northeast Wisconsin that is being occupied by a dilapidated, crumbling 120-year-old state facility,” Steffen said.
He says the plan would provide so much to the area.
“New opportunities, new spaces, new businesses, new housing including some of the best riverfront access in entire Northeast Wisconsin.”
He added that the plan respects the history of the space, including the historic wall.
“The facility on the inside actually has some amazing architecture and much of it is actually protected by the state and national historical registry, but there are ways to enhance and provide access to that to the public.”
Steffen says within the next year, the proposal will be incorporated in the next state budget.
“This a win, win, win situation.”
