The 200 block of N. Monroe Avenue in downtown Green Bay. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — There’s a new plan for a large empty lot in Green Bay’s downtown, and city officials hope a grocery store can still be included with it.
It’s the fourth plan in six years for the former Associated Bank parking lot at 200 N. Monroe Avenue.
The new plan from La Crosse-based developer Three Sixty Real Estate Solutions would bring 160 apartments and 24 townhomes to the 2.5-acre property in three phases.
“We’ve been working on it a long time, so we’re hopeful that something will come,” said Green Bay Economic Development Director Cheryl Renier-Wigg.
A 2019 plan from a different developer paired housing with a Maurer’s Market — a grocery store that appears to only have one location remaining in Wisconsin Dells.
In 2021, the same developer changed its plans to replace Maurer’s with Main Oriental Market, which has a smaller location still in operation across Pine Street.
The city has asked Three Sixty to find a grocer to include with its plans.
“We did reach out to several different brokers in Milwaukee, Madison, as well as some direct conversations with other potential end users there, and have not had a lot of luck with that, sourcing a grocery component there,” said Jeremy Novak, vice president of development for Three Sixty.
Some of those conversations have included Kwik Trip for just a convenience store — no gas — and Festival Foods. Three Sixty says neither has shown interest.
“With my industry contacts, the grocery business is extremely difficult right now as a whole across the board,” said Novak. “It’s a hard sell from our standpoint.”
“It’s disheartening because everyone wants a grocer downtown,” said Renier-Wigg. “We’re working on that internally. Our staff is to just reach out and help find that grocer as well.”
The current development layouts show only about 10,000 square feet available for a grocer or other retailer. That’s about a fourth of the size of an average grocery store.
“I don’t think we need something really big for the downtown,” said Renier-Wigg. “I think there’s the opportunity to change that plan, depending if someone comes forward as well.”
Last week the city’s Redevelopment Authority agreed to give the developer until mid-January to come up with more concrete plans for a development agreement.
The developer hopes to break ground next spring and have all phases of construction done in 2028.
The first phase would build the townhomes, a dog park, and a veggie garden. A five-story building with 80 apartment units and a combination of retail and leasing space would be part of the second phase. The last phase would include another 80 apartment units in a second building and an urban plaza.
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