A riverfront redevelopment area on Green Bay’s west side should see apartment construction start in 2025, but the next phase of park improvements will have to wait until 2026.
Merge Urban Development expects to start construction this year on the first phase of a 225-unit multifamily development in the Shipyard Redevelopment Area, which is bounded by Bridge Street, the Fox River, West Mason Street and South Broadway. But a spokesperson for the Iowa-based company said one issue remains to be resolved first.
Meanwhile, the public may have to wait until 2026 for construction of phase two improvements to The Shipyard, as the riverfront park’s now known, but Green Bay Parks Department staff said the public should get a look at final designs, which includes some unique-to-the-area outdoor fitness equipment, this year.
“I’m very excited about the playground and splash pad designs. I think they’ll be unique to the area,” said Kaurie Mihm, the city’s park planner. “We’re excited for the public to get to utilize it. We think those will be great assets for the community.”
Here’s a closer look at what’s holding up Merge and what’s planned for the park.
The Shipyard Area’s new park and promenade located near South Broadway along the Fox River is pictured on Oct. 4, 2024, in Green Bay.
What does Merge plan to construct in Green Bay’s Shipyard redevelopment area?
Merge, in spring 2021, proposed a 225-unit, two building mixed-use project for the site. Revised plans in January 2024 broke the two buildings up into three buildings. The first two buildings will include 109 units and will be connected via a multistory skywalk.
Plans call for the creation of about 45 parking spaces on the building site, with additional parking to be created in Merge’s second phase of construction.
The company still intends to start construction this year, but there’s an engineering and design holdup that needs to be resolved first, said Brent Dahlstrom, Merge Urban Development’s managing partner.
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A screenshot of Merge Urban Development’s plan for the north end of the Shipyard Redevelopment Area includes two buildings with 109 apartments.
So what’s the holdup?
The holdup is where Arndt Street ends and Merge’s construction site begins.
Arndt and Bridge streets are both scheduled for reconstruction as part of redevelopment of the area. Arndt Street ends in the Shipyard site just east of Merge’s development site. Dahlstrom said the company and city continue to try to match up Arndt Street reconstruction with Merge’s development plans.
“We’re working directly with the city and are in constant conversations, but that’s a piece that needs to be solved,” Dahlstrom said.
Matt Buchanan, deputy development director for the city of Green Bay, said progress has been made in the last few months and he expects the project to move forward soon.
The Shipyard Area’s new park and promenade located near South Broadway along the Fox River is pictured on Oct. 4, 2024, in Green Bay.
The Shipyard phase two plan includes climbing wall, urban beach, splash pad
The first phase of The Shipyard installed a riverfront promenade, fishing pier, floating docks and kayak launch along the Fox River shoreline.
Engineers as of June have completed about 50% of the design work for The Shipyard phase two park improvements. The city has budgeted $10 million — $5 million via a federal grant — for this phase of the plan. Mihm said the current designs aim to activate the park space year-round and include unique features like a climbing wall and splash pad that should help The Shipyard stand out among local parks. The current plans include:
Great lawn for events, concerts and gatherings
Urban sand beach with seating and beach volleyball courts
Adult playground with outdoor exercise equipment
The shipping container used as concession stand during Draft City Music Fest will be moved to The Shipyard and incorporated into phase two plans
Park signage and interpretive signage to tell the site’s history.
Mihm is particularly excited about the climbing wall.
“That portion is looking pretty exciting,” Mihm said. “This would be a little more unique than the traditional exercise equipment you might imagine.”
When can I get a look at Green Bay’s plans for The Shipyard park?
While the public’s opportunities to provide input on the designs have passed, Mihm said the public still will get a look at the designs before construction starts, which is tentatively scheduled for spring 2026.
Mihm said staff and consultants plan to present the finalized designs to the Parks Committee at a future meeting, hopefully by early fall, during which the public could still share their thoughts.
What is the Shipyard redevelopment area?
The city’s Shipyard redevelopment project focuses on an area roughly bounded by Mason Street, the Fox River, Ashland Avenue and Bridge Street. City plans also extend the focus on improvements in the neighborhood west of Broadway, too.
The city in 2017 first laid out plans to redevelop the long-vacant, former industrial land along the Fox River into a new baseball stadium for the Green Bay Rockers, an indoor concert venue and a sports bar.
When the concert venue and stadium moved to Ashwaubenon, the city revamped the site plans to focus on commercial development and multifamily housing, complemented by expansive public recreation spaces and a commercial plaza along South Broadway.
Contact business reporter Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or jbollier@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: What’s up with park, apartment plans for Green Bay’s Shipyard area?