By Nick Wood
Acting Editor
GREEN BAY – With a vision of extending the revitalization of downtown south from the Mason Street Bridge to the Georgia Pacific mill, the Shipyard District, Inc. on Tuesday opened its new headquarters at 824 S. Broadway.
Shipyard District Director Tarl Knight said the two-story house on the corner of Broadway and 4th Street will serve as a hub for district residents, business owners and neighborhood associations to get connected to resources to make the area brighter, cleaner, safer and more welcoming to residents and visitors alike.
“Everyone’s pretty excited about getting involved,” Knight said, noting that about a dozen property owners in the district are on the board of directors.
While about half of the 50 or so businesses in the district are industrial or manufacturing in nature, there are about 25 bars, restaurants and retail businesses that hope to benefit from attracting more people to the area.
Knight said South Broadway is already known for live music, and Friday and Saturday’s All Bands On Deck music festival, which is organized by the district, will bring more than 100 live performances at 25 bars and restaurants up and down Broadway.
“We’re proud to be a live music destination for the city, and All Bands on Deck is the biggest music festival in Green Bay’s history.”
He said the amenities and resources that will be available at the new office will be a new way to open doors to the area.
Pointing just up the block to the Shipyard park under construction on the north side of the Mason Street Bridge, Knight said he sees that being a catalyst for the whole area.
“In five years, the Shipyard park will be done, the coal piles will be removed and we hope it’s kind of like dominoes bringing development south,” he said.
The Broadway district, which has had great success in the past 20 years revitalizing the north end of Broadway, officially ends at the Mason Street Bridge.
The Shipyard District will pick up at the bridge and serve the commercial and residential area from the bridge south to Lombardi Avenue and from the Fox River west to Ashland Avenue.
Included in the district are two relatively new neighborhood organizations: the Tank Park and South Broadway neighborhood associations.
Together the groups hope to coordinate efforts to access grants and other funding for facade improvements, street banners, benches, waste bins and other beautification efforts including murals.
Knight acknowledges the area currently has a very industrial feel with trains, trucks and lots of bare brick walls.
“We have five murals committed by the end of next year, and that will brighten things up,” Knight said.
Among the two dozen people present for Tuesday’s ribbon cutting were residents, business owners, board members and State Rep. Kristina Shelton, who represents the 90th District which includes the area.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for this district and its effort to engage the community,” she said. “I’m just coming by to applaud you.”
Invited but unable to attend were Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and Ald. Brian Johnson.
Knight said the new district has had productive talks with the city and they hope to keep those conversations going.
“We’re looking forward to working with the city government,” Knight said.
The office will be open from noon-5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and by appointment Thursday and Friday.