Green Bay · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Green Bay public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Artificial intelligence policy for public art
The commission is deciding whether — and how strictly — artists can use generative AI in works and proposals the city funds. Options range from a simple value statement to an AI-disclosure requirement to a near-total ban, and the commission chose to explore a policy plus survey artists before deciding.
New indoor tennis and simulator facility on west side
Titleshot Athletic Club will bring eight tennis simulator bays — reportedly the first in Wisconsin — plus three full-size indoor courts to the Badger State Brewing campus. The city's revolving loan fund is helping finance the buildout, and the project carries federal job-creation requirements tied to local hiring.
Divine Temple steeple and roof repair
The historic Divine Temple building on Cherry Street, right across from City Hall, suffered roof damage that crumbled part of its brick steeple. Workers are reusing the original brick to match existing specs.
Infill housing at 560 N. Henry Street
A vacant floodplain lot that's been empty since a house was razed years ago can now be built on, with relief from the 15-foot fill buffer and a slightly reduced corner setback. It means a new home on a long-vacant near-downtown lot.
Parking around new North Adams Street development
With the new building open where the Adams Street lot used to be, the city is restoring about six metered stalls on Cherry Street and adding one near 226-228 North Adams to replace parking for the area's businesses.
S. Chestnut Avenue street vacation for fire station site
Five new single-family homes are coming to a mostly industrial-zoned pocket near S. Chestnut Avenue and S. Broadway. Because the zoning doesn't normally allow houses there, each home needed a conditional use permit. The commission added screening and walkway conditions to keep the homes compatible with neighbors.
Facade deterioration at 109 N. Adams Street
The historic Greek key and name details on the 1926 former Schauer & Schumacher funeral home are crumbling from freeze-thaw damage and rust jacking. Repair bids from a dozen masons failed, so the owners proposed covering the damage with black metal panels — raising questions about historic character versus practical preservation.
Facade treatment of the former Schauer & Schumacher funeral home
The 1926 Berners-Schober-designed building in the Downtown Historic District has badly deteriorated classical details, including Greek key ornament and the S&S name. Rather than repairing them, the owner will cover them with metal panels — a compromise that keeps the streetscape tidy but leaves the original ornament unrepaired behind the caps.
Downtown Streetscape Design Standards
A new guidebook standardizing downtown sidewalks, benches, trees and materials from curb to storefront. It grew out of the 2014 authenticity plan and will shape everything from corridor projects to a single new bench — but there's no dedicated implementation budget yet.
Housing component fully financed
The residential side of the project — 85 units plus commercial space — is now fully financed except for a final $250,000 piece from WEDC. Deep foundations begin in October and the development agreement goes to the Council next week.
Down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers
$400,000 in HOME funds will now help income-eligible buyers cover down payments and closing costs through the Community Land Trust program.
MOE Development planning option at 321 & 325 N. Broadway
A 90-day extension lets MOE Development finalize designs for 12-24 apartments over first-floor commercial at the current dog park site, with a development agreement possible by the December meeting.
200 Monroe housing development moving forward
The city previewed its next proposed tax incremental district at 200 N Monroe. No action was taken; creation steps are still ahead.
TID 35: 200 N Monroe timeline delay
The 168-unit workforce housing TID is on hold at the developer's request. The base year shifts to January 1, 2027 to match a slower construction schedule caused by soil issues and power-line relocation work with WPS.
Boys and Girls Club expansion on Harvey Street
Two R1-zoned parcels will now allow community center use so the club can expand. The owner plans to donate the land, and the club has no specific plans yet — but the path is cleared.
Community center at 1444/1448 Harvey Street
A community center use tied to the Boys & Girls Club was approved for two residential-zoned parcels on Harvey Street. Neighbors may see increased activity and traffic at the site.
Habitat for Humanity home at 921 Smith Street
Habitat for Humanity plans a single-family home on a vacant lot at 921 Smith Street — a home needs a conditional use permit there because the R-3 zone allows multifamily by right. No neighbors objected.
TID 5 downtown affordable housing extension
The downtown TID would be extended one year so about $2.1 million from the 2027 tax roll flows into the city's affordable housing fund, with 75% required to go to affordable housing.
Padi-Wood Lane right-of-way for Grandview Industrial Park
The city is buying land to build Padi-Wood Lane, the road that will unlock development in Grandview Industrial Park south of Mason Street. No residents live on the land being acquired, and current landowners will be compensated.
Shorehaven subdivision — 9 lots at 2892 Nicolet Drive
A nine-lot low-density residential subdivision moves forward along Nicolet Drive, including a public dedication tied to a road on the city's official map. Staff comments must be worked into the final plat before it comes back for more approvals.
Astor Park National Register nomination
The city has issued an RFP, funded by a federal CLG grant, to hire a consultant to prepare the Astor Park Historic District nomination. Firms' proposals are due in June, and the commission will weigh in on the selection around June or July.
Expanded Rotating Arts Program
The Path for Pause art project RFQ and the amended Arts Grant RFP were approved, moving public art and arts funding programs forward.
Commission work group restructuring
The commission scrapped its five work group plan because commissioners' schedules were too stretched, settling on three groups instead. Housing was kept separate as the biggest ongoing challenge, while jobs/wages, recreation, and health were bundled together.
Quincy/Pine/Cherry Street redevelopment
The Three Sixty Real Estate redevelopment deal was held until May 5, delaying the downtown project two weeks.
New housing development on Vernon Taylor Drive and near-downtown townhomes
Six three-bedroom townhomes will be built on corner lots at Van Buren and Reber Streets, owner-occupied and market rate, under a one-year development agreement.
Recovery housing at former Glass Haus building
The Jackie Nitschke Center plans a boarding house at 633 E Walnut Street downtown. It's a use that adds supportive housing near existing human-service neighbors, with parking and historic-preservation conditions attached.
Jackie Nitschke Center boarding house expansion
The Jackie Nitschke Center, which runs addiction recovery programming, will convert the long-vacant Glass Haus at 633 E Walnut into a 14-bed, 28-day residential program with 24/7 staffing. Conditions protect the home's beloved historic front facade and tie parking to staff only, since program residents can't bring vehicles.
Gateway Collective property for sale
The downtown Gateway Collective building the authority once financed with bonds is on the market. If another nonprofit buys it, the bonds could stay intact; a for-profit buyer would have to pay them off.
Historic window restoration at 109 N Adams Street
The 1926 Schauer & Schumacher building in the Downtown Historic District is being rehabbed into a law office. The approved work repairs original third-floor windows and recreates missing second-story windows in matching style with modern double-pane glass.
On Broadway redevelopment agreement amended
The Council approved an amendment to the development agreement with On Broadway, Inc. for the 211 N. Broadway redevelopment.
The Pines Subdivision final plat approved
A 38-lot subdivision with public dedications at 0 Deuchert Street got final plat approval with conditions.
Hmong American United proposal for 401 9th Street
Hmong American United of Green Bay got conditional approval of its proposal to use the city-owned 9th Street property.
Multifamily development option at 1531 Main Street
GB Real Estate Investments got a 180-day window to study building multifamily housing on the Main Street site.
The Pines Subdivision — 38 new single-family homes
The final plat for 38 single-family lots off Deuchert Street was approved, adding new housing on the city's west side near the former Red Cross site. Streets and parkland will be dedicated to the public, and Council takes final action January 20.