Progress report: Municipalities court economic development Baylake Bank City Center design plans for the exterior of the former Boston Store (submitted photo). By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle In 2003, many area municipalities sat calmly through the economic downturn, working on cutting budgets and building their tax bases. This year, some of that work may start to pay off in Green Bay, De Pere and Ashwaubenon. There are two ways to build tax base: improve what you have or add more space. Green Bay is doing both. Construction will begin this spring on Nicolet Bank's downtown building, while down Washington Street, Baylake Bank starts work on revamping the Boston Store for its headquarters. Add the ribbon cutting this month for Johnson Bank further south on the street, and Green Bay's riverfront will be a bank of, well, banks. And for those of you who are looking to spend rather than save, the new St. Brendan's Inn will be opening. "Those were two eyesores that were contaminated. We were able to use (state Department of Natural Resources) money for cleanup, and now they're back on the tax rolls," said city economic development director Peter Thillman. The city's tax rolls also have been boosted by the I-43 Business Park, and with another park ready to roll, Thillman said, "there's no stopping again this year. "We're closing (tax incremental funding) district No. 3 in the I-43 park. It's one of the largest in the state in terms of increment, and unlike almost all the others, this one closed in seven years unlike others that go 23-25 years," he said. TIF districts use the amount the land buyer would have paid in increased taxes following development to pay for infrastructure improvements. With the I-43 park filling up, the city turns to its park along the border with the town of Scott at the junction of States 54 and 57. "We'll be ready for the first tenants there by the end of the summer," Thillman said. In Ashwaubenon, the big story of 2003 was the opening of Younkers at an expanded Bay Park Square mall. But there are a lot more retail developments in the works, says village President Norbert De Cleene. The new "Shoppes in the Village," just south of the mall, will feature what should be a popular destination - Krispy Kreme doughnuts - and a Red Robin chain restaurant. In addition, a big-box retailer is expected shortly to fill the site occupied by the vacant Coca-Cola plant. Due for completion soon is the riverfront building visible from the State 172 bridge. "The riverfront's going really well," De Cleene said. "We have tenants signed for the top floor, and possibly the third and fourth floor. They'll be ready to start the restaurant on the waterfront just as soon as weather permits." One project on hold is the proposed pedestrian walkway parallel to and between Oneida Street and Holmgren Way, linking the mall and the Resch Center/Lambeau Field area. "We're looking at hiring someone to do a feasibility study and find out what will be the best thing for the area," DeCleene said. And there are other plans, including some of the ShopKo-owned land north of the mall, more work along the riverfront and the southern half of Broadway south of State 172. In De Pere, the city sold less of its land than normal - about 10 acres, said development chief Bill Patzke. What development there was were mostly additions to existing buildings, although Campbell Wrapper built a facility on American Boulevard. An addition is planned this year. Plans were approved for the Nicolet condominiums at Reid Street and Main Avenue on the west side. Also approved were a new restaurant near the Sports Corner and a second 26-unit building for Joliet Square. But this year, he says, is "looking like gangbusters." Site plans are set for a cold storage building in the east industrial park, and work on a Menards store is expected to begin near the development off Scheuring Road and U.S. 41. A sporting goods store will be there as well with an extra 20,000 square feet available there and 24,000 other retail square feet in the area. Thillman said the work shows the local economy is strong despite the national problems. "We have higher unemployment here, but it's not because of a loss of jobs, it's been the result of immigration. There are more people in the work force than in previous years," he said. The city's backbone industry - paper - was helped by new legislation easing the permitting process, he said. And a planned paper technology center - already with a half-million dollars in federal seed money - will help. "That will go a long ways toward addressing one of our strengths, nonwoven paper," he said. "We've already become a cluster of nonwoven development. "But we need to diversify. We've already done a good job with insurance and health care. Transport is going to be big, especially in logistics."