Green Bay salvages The Shipyard project

The city of Green Bay's proposed Shipyard development project isn't dead yet. But it might not look the same as the city refocuses its efforts.

Green Bay's Redevelopment Authority met Tuesday to discuss plans to salvage the multi-million dollar project on South Broadway.

The future of the Shipyard became unclear when the

The Shipyard was to house a baseball field for the Bullfrogs, a concert venue and a restaurant. Action 2 News was first to report the move.

Bullfrogs owners said the lack of commitment from the City of Green Bay and the uncertainty over the Shipyard was the reason for moving to Ashwaubenon.

The loss has Green Bay on the defense, and officials are already working on a new plan with an events center, restaurant and a different sports venue, like a soccer field.

The city's development director says the city immediately reached out to a number of potential partners. He says they're still interested in doing something in that area, which covers about 13 acres between the riverfront and Broadway.

RDA Chair Harry Maier said, "What we are going to do immediately is engage a consultant, like we did on the CityDeck landings along the river, which gave us some big, big thoughts as to what direction to go through and how to do it, and we are going to do it with this site here."

The RDA directed $10,000 in neighborhood enhancement funds to staff for studying revisions to an events center and additional elements.

Mayor Jim Schmitt says the city will meet with PMI, which manages venues including the Resch Center and Meyer Theatre, to talk about possibilities for the Shipyard. He hopes to have a concrete plan in 90 days.

"I think the uses are going to change a bit," the mayor acknowledged. "There are things out there we've looked at and gotten calls on. It won't accommodate baseball, but other things we can use, especially the outdoor events center."

Action 2 News' Brittany Schmidt has been following this story and will have updates Tuesday.