Walmart is NOT the answer, Walmart is NOT saving Green Bay Taxpayers’ money. 1. The existing Birdseye/Larsen Company buildings alone could generate at least $13.2 million in potential tax base alone versus the $15 million that a single Walmart Supercenter consuming this entire 15.5 acres could provide. These buildings do not require demolition. They have 120,000 sq ft of mixed-use space. The Titletown development is estimated to bring in $110 per square ft: 120,000 sq ft x $110 per sq ft. = $13.2 million in tax base. Plus there is still over 12 acres of land available for further development. 2. A $3 million debt is small for a 15.5 acre property that is projected to produce at least $30 million in tax base. 3. Walmart is exaggerating the clean up expenses for this site. Their environmental estimates also include lighting, landscaping, parking lot paving and striping, signage, traffic signals, plus demolition and landfill of the existing buildings. 4. Grants are already in place to address any genuine environmental concerns. In the past 18 months, $1.6 million of brownfield grants have been obtained for the City of Green Bay. 5. A key principle in any Smart Growth Plan is to maximize the use of existing infrastructure and not see it as intrusive. Taxpayers have already paid for it, so it shouldn’t go to waste. This includes sewer lines and other utilities in place for the existing buildings. 6. Walmart has effectively tied up this valuable piece of Downtown property for over 18 months, locking out other potential investors at a time when Green Bay is growing. This land first became available for development in 2007, the same year as the great recession hit. This led to a banking crisis that blocked lending for new business development or expansion. 7. A Walmart Supercenter on this site will bring increased costs to taxpayers for infrastructure in regards to traffic and safety. Broadway is currently a two-lane road located near two elementary schools. 8. Walmart has not made any significant compromises nor have they worked with the city to develop a plan. The city has repeatedly asked for a smaller Neighborhood Market that is closer to 30,000 sq ft. Walmart continues to come back with a 150,000+ sq ft Supercenter. 9. This parcel of land is arguably the most historic piece of land in our state and deserves to be thoughtfully developed, not paved over. 10. Green Bay’s new $21 million Convention and Visitors’ Center is located directly across the Fox River from this site. Conventioneers and visitors to Green Bay want a walkable downtown, such as the Broadway District. 11. A 600+ parking lot filled with lights will be shining into homes and hotel rooms 24 hours a day. 12. The Broadway District is designated as a historic Main Street, the entire Larsen complex is a part of that district. The adaptive reuse of the Larsen Company factory buildings by Titletown is an example of what can be done with the remainder of this property. B local is a group of citizens who advocate for a mixed use development on Larsen Green that is in accordance with the Smart Growth Plan created for Green Bay in 2013. We believe that any development on this land must honor our City Plan and Green Bay’s history, as well as provide for the City’s future.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:32:34 +0000
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