Allouez buys Webster Avenue Associated Bank branch, plans strip mall demolition

ALLOUEZ - Allouez this fall continued its varied efforts to develop a central business district along South Webster Avenue.

The Village Board on Nov. 7 approved the purchase of a soon-to-close Associated Bank branch at 2001 S. South Webster Ave. for $800,000. It also recently awarded a contract to demolish the vacant strip mall at 1905 S. Webster Ave. that the village bought in 2020.

Both sites are located at the intersection of Webster Avenue and St. Joseph Street, a key area in Allouez’s 2019 action plan to develop a village center district. The plans envision new streetscaping, community amenities, and development of higher-density buildings with housing and commercial space along Webster Avenue.

"It's the right time because the intersection of St. Joseph and Webster is a strategic corner for us," said Jim Rafter, Allouez Village Board president. "It's a very important corner."

Here’s what to know.

Allouez Associated Bank branch one of six to close in Green Bay, Milwaukee

Associated Bank in August announced plans to close six branches in Wisconsin and Illinois in November, including the branch at 2001 S. Webster Ave.

Jennifer Kaminski, public relations senior manager for Associated Bank, confirmed all six branches remain on track to close Friday.

Customers who currently use the Allouez branch can instead visit Associated branches at 206 N. Wisconsin St., in De Pere; at 200 N. Adams St., in downtown Green Bay; or at 2241 Main St. Suite A, in Green Bay.

The Associated building, and its basement tenant, will stay

Fuller said the village wanted to control the site because of its importance to the long-term vision, which suggests the Associated properties would be a good location for a multistory mixed-use building with first floor retail and second floor apartments and smaller commercial buildings.

“This is an opportunity to move forward with the goals highlighted in the master plan for the area,” Fuller said.

But Fuller said the village plans to leave the site as-is for the next several years since the building has been well-maintained and fits with the village center vision.

“It could be for the next several years we lease it and have it as a property for other goals or as a redevelopment site down the road,” Fuller said.

Fuller said a tenant that leases space in the building is expected to remain there into 2024. Once the purchase is complete, Fuller said the village will look at its options for the first floor space, but he said the village's priority remains the strip mall just north of the Associated site.

After Milwaukee developer terminates $17.7 million plan, new developers show interest in strip mall

Fuller said the village continues to search for a new company to redevelop the village-owned, vacant strip mall at 1905 S. Webster Ave.

General Capital in July terminated its $17.7 million development plan to build 125 apartments and retail space on the site, citing an increase in project financing costs.

Fuller said the village still wants to see the 2.7-acre site, which it purchased for $1.3 million in 2020, become a high-density mix of apartments, retail spaces and public amenities.

Since General Capital canceled, Fuller said the village received a couple of proposals it continues to review. Rafter called the interest "exciting."

"We're razing the strip mall and actively engaging with developers interested in that property," Rafter said. "Having the Associated Bank building eventually become part of that (village center) vision is exciting."

Wrecking ball schedules visit to strip mall

Allouez originally intended for the site developer to coordinate demolition of the existing strip mall as part of its redevelopment plans. But Fuller said the strip mall's time has come now that General Capital opted not to proceed with its plans.

“There’s a lot of deferred maintenance on that building,” Fuller said.

The village awarded a $198,950 demolition contract to Best Enterprises, of De Pere, at its Oct. 3 meeting. Fuller said the contract calls for the building to be removed by Dec. 31.

The Green Bay Metro Fire Department this week has used the vacant strip mall for training.

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Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or jbollier@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Allouez buys Associated Bank branch, plans strip mall demolition