GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A newly-drafted plan looks to attract businesses to one part of Green Bay.
City officials have spent recent months creating the Velp Avenue Areawide Plan.
Development Director Kevin Vonck says the plan “looks at redevelopment opportunities up and down the Velp Avenue corridor. It’s an area that has been underserved in terms of retail.”
Vonck specifically mentions Velp’s intersections with Locust Street, Military Avenue, and Atkinson Drive.
The area was historically developed with a mixture of commercial, residential, and industrial uses, but Vonck says it hasn’t been seriously looked at for development for ‘a generation.’
Vonck notes city leaders have certain hopes in attracting businesses to that part of town.
“There is some industrial and flood plain on the northern side so we understand that some of those might be stand alone industrial or stand alone retail buildings. We also want to make sure that this environment is comfortable for biking and walking so making sure buildings are close up to the street, provide good pedestrian access.”
In addition to businesses building new, Vonck says the plan covers “some of those properties that have maybe been vacant for awhile or maybe have been underused. How can we get them better use.”
Vonck notes the possibility of adding to the city’s 15 Tax Incremental Financing Districts.
“What types of incentives or tools do we need to look at to get development rolling in this area?”
The draft plan will be presented at a public hearing tonight, which runs from 6-8 pm at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, located at 341 Wilson Avenue.
Input will be used in finalizing the plan before it goes to the city’s Economic Development Authority, Plan Commission, and City Council for consideration.
If adopted, Vonck notes the plan could start to unfold within six to 12 months.
