Timeline for Larsen Green - 2007 - 2014 (If you want a refresher) 2007 Birdseye Foods sold this 22acre complex to On Broadway Inc, but retained a lease on the 520 N Broadway building for its R&D and Q&A departments. (50 employees will remain here due to the state of the art test kitchens and research facility that exists in this building.) The sale is for $4 million, even though it was assessed at $6 million. On Broadway Inc. agreed to develop this land as historic mixed use. Birdseye Foods had moved its corporate headquarters to Rochester, NY in 2003. They held the lease on 520 N Broadway through June 2014. 2007 Green Bay agrees to back $3 million loan for On Broadway Inc to purchase Larsen Green. This is based on the request of OBIs bank M&I, they are uncomfortable giving OBI a $4 million loan without backing. The Larsen Green Governing Board is formed with three representatives from OBI and three from the City to insure the cities interest in this loan and property. March 2009 On Broadway Inc. receives the Great American Main Street Award Winner. When completed, this project will add eight blocks to the downtown. Although the property is about 10 years out (2019) from completion, it has the potential to add $100 million to the citys tax roles. Another interesting angle to this story—the project is called Larsen Green as a nod to its environmentally sustainable goals and to Larsen, the cannerys founder whose great grandson, Greg Larsen, is the president of OBI. Another twist? The development is located where Fort Howard once existed. OBI is seeking to make this the first Leadership Energy Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) project in Wisconsin certified by the US Green Building Council. An excerpt of an article written for the Main Street Story of the Week - February/March 2009. January 2010 Christopher Naumann is hired as the Executive Director for On Broadway, Inc. replacing Kelly Czypinski. December 30, 2012 Birdseye research and development department moves out of 520 N Broadway. December 2012 Larsen Green Governing Board begins private discussions with Walmart after receiving a Letter of Intent to purchase 15 acres of Larsen Green. June 25, 2013 A purchase agreement is executed for a 150 day Feasibility Period, including a 90-day timeframe to obtain approval of Development Agreement and Design Concept. July 26, 2013 City staff is first introduced to this project and meets with the Walmart design team. August 27, 2013 City staff meets with the Walmart design team. August 29, 2013 At an Authenticity Public Workshop 43 comment cards opposed the idea of a bigbox on Broadway. August 30, 2013 The Walmart purchase agreement becomes public. September 23, 2013 Walmart misses deadline for approval of a Development Agreement and Design Concept. September 24, 2013 Walmart holds its first Neighborhood Meeting at the Neville Museum and shows the public its preliminary concepts for a 150,000+ Supercenter. September 30, 2013 1st Amendment extends the deadline to October 23, 2013 for approval of a Development Agreement and Design Concept for Walmart. October 23, 2013 Walmart misses 2nd deadline for approval of a Development Agreement and Design Concept. October 24, 2013 Local officials met with the Walmart design team. November 19, 2013 2nd Amendment extends the deadline to November 22, 2013 for approval of a Development Agreement and Design Concept for Walmart. November 19, 2013 Local officials met with the Walmart design team and agreed to a 2- week extension for a Feasibility Period, but denied the extension for a Development Agreement and Concept Plan. November 22, 2013 Walmart misses 3rd deadline for approval of a Development Agreement and Design Concept. November 25, 2013 3rd Amendment extends the deadline to December 13, 2013 for approval of a Development Agreement and Design Concept for Walmart. November 26, 2013 65 Broadway Businesses petition OBI demanding changes in response to OBIs lack of communication regarding Walmart. December 2, 2013 Larsen Green Governing Board considers a motion to terminate the Purchase Agreement with Walmart due to no Development Agreement and Design Concept being approved. The result is a 3-3 tie. Three representatives from OBI vote no while the three, city representative’s vote, yes. December 5, 2013 On Broadway Inc board of directors votes to let development process continue. December 10, 2013 RDA (Redevelopment Authority) refuses to break the tie and extends Walmarts purchase option to June 14. December 11, 2013 Walmart notifies Larsen Green Governing Board that it is invoking the first of two possible 90-day feasibility period extensions. January 6, 2014 Walmart submitted a formal proposal for a 150,000 Sq Ft Supercenter January 22, 2014 Walmart hosts a 2nd neighborhood meeting at the Neville Museum. January 27, 2014 Green Bay Plan Commission denies Walmarts request to designate Larsen Green as Commercial versus Industrial. Alternatively, the Plan Commission amends the Comprehensive Plan to designate Larsen Green as Downtown Mixed Use so it matched the existing PUD. (40 people spoke in favor of the Downtown designation, 6 people favored the Commercial designation.) February 4, 2014 Green Bay City Council unanimously approved to move forward with the Plan Commission Downtown Mixed Use designation. March 4, 2014 Green Bay City Council unanimously approved the Downtown Mixed Use designation. (26 people spoke in favor of the Downtown designation. 9 people spoke in favor of the commercial designation.) March 18, 2014 Green Bay city Council unanimously adopts the Authenticity for Downtown Green Bay, which shows a residential and commercial mixed-use development on Larsen Green that preserves the existing buildings and continues the urban density of the Broadway District. April 1, 2014 City Council Elections create changes in City Council members. Chris Wery and Guy Zima become vocal advocates for Walmart and Tom DeWane joins them. April 8, 2014 Alderman Tom Sladek suffered a stroke while playing tennis. Will be unable to attend City Council and committee meetings until he is medically cleared. April 10, 2014 The Broadway BID board meets and accuses OBI of selling out the Broadway District for a deal with Walmart. May 5, 2014 Walmart meets with city officials and shares a new concept that offers air rights that allows the city to build on a small portion above the parking lot. City opposes the idea. May 9, 2014 City of Green Bay received a submittal from Walmart Real Estate Business Trust requesting an amendment to the Larsen Green Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning designation for a 154,000 Supercenter. May 19, 2014 Tom DeWane, President of the Green Bay City Council calls a special advisory Committee Meeting hoping to fast track the vote and provide a chance for the new alderman to get up to speed. May 20, 2014 Walmart notifies Larsen Green Governing Board that it is invoking the second of two possible 90-day feasibility period extensions. Larsen Green Governing Board extends Walmarts purchase option to August 25th. May 27, 2014 Walmart meets with city planning staff. They cite several significant issues with the downtown supercenter concept. May 27, 2014 Walmart hosts a 3rd neighborhood meeting at the Neville Public Museum. May 27, 2014 B Local holds a Stand with the Plan rally outside the Neville. Over 100 people show up with signs. June 3, 2014 Walmart submits a revised proposal featuring 2 story facade, air rights, red bricks and Fort Howard murals in windows. But it is still 154,000 Supercenter. June 9, 2014 Green Bay Plan Commission denies Walmarts request to amend the PUD to accommodate a 154,000 Supercenter. June 11, 2014 Alderman Joe Moore, sites a conflict of interest and now recusing himself from voting on any issue regarding the Walmart proposal. June 12, 2014 Mayor Jim Schmitt holds a press conference and reveals three mixed-use options that would produce more tax base than a Walmart Supercenter. June 17, 2014 Green Bay City Council votes to delay the vote on Walmarts request to amend the PUD so alderman Tom Sladek could attend and vote in July. (Alderman Sladek suffered a stroke on April 8, 2014) June 30, 2014 OBIs loan for Larsen Green is due end of June 2014. June 30, 2014 Birdseyes lease expires for 520 N. Broadway. OBI looses that income stream. *July 15, 2014 City Council to vote on Walmarts request to amend the PUD. *August 25th, 2014 Walmarts purchase option expires. * Events to come.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 01:17:26 +0000
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