element involves establishing a community land trust for single-family parcels.“The land trust would help make sure that the house that’s built on it is kept affordable in perpetuity,” he explains. “The people that own the house on top of the land would be able to buy that house for an affordable rate.” The city is taking calculated risks to ensure the project’s success. “We are investing in all that infrastructure upfront,” Buchanan acknowledges, “and we’re hopeful that the development that comes after, which we expect to be getting started later this year, will help us eventually cover the cost of that infrastructure. We understand that it’s a little bit of a risk, but we have to make these kinds of investment in order to move the needle on the housing issue.” SHIPYARD DEVELOPMENT: FROM BROWNFIELD TO COMMUNITY ASSET A former industrial brownfield along Green Bay’s South Broadway area is being reimagined as a vibrant community space.“The Shipyard development project is creating that sense of place from a piece of property that’s been remediated and is currently in the process of becoming a parkland,” explains Finco. “It’s right on the river, so there’s an opportunity there for recreation.There will be a riverfront promenade, kayak launch, fishing pier, urban beach, and a large space for gathering, concerts, and community events.” The project represents more than just park development. “We’re taking that area and creating a state-of-the-art park that will be adjacent to some additional housing development,” Finco says. “It’ll really help to tie that entire area together, tying into the river frontage, the Shipyard Park, and then into the neighboring residential and commercial districts as well.” Future plans include an innovative container park featuring retail opportunities and a business incubator. “That site in particular is the catalyst, but the whole corridor of South Broadway is a target for redevelopment, and we are working with the EPA on this,” says Buchanan. “It’s Brownfield central, old industrial properties that have shut down. We’ve got single family neighborhoods down here that are our lowest income census tract, and there just hasn’t been a lot of love and attention to this neighborhood for quite some time.” The initiative has already gained significant momentum and funding.“We just wrapped up phase one of the Shipyard project, including the riverfront infrastructure and parkland,” Buchanan notes. “We received a $5 million grant from US National Park Service for phase two, so that’ll be a $10 million investment.” The comprehensive approach includes support for existing residents: “We’re working with the neighborhoods, providing grants and loans to existing homeowners and business owners. It’s a neighborhood revitalization effort to take these brownfield properties and give them a boost.” COMMUNITY-FIRST PLANNING: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH For Green Bay’s planners, successful development hinges on deep community engagement. “Just how essential it is to plan with the community, to really get to know the people that are living and working in your neighborhoods,” reflects Buchanan. “I think BUILDING STRONGER BUSINESSES www.greatergbc.org 6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03
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