Green Bay sues Shipyard developer over delayed apartments and retail

Green Bay is suing Merge LLC over the delayed private development planned for part of the Shipyard District, asking a Brown County court to end the development agreement and return the property to city control.

The City of Green Bay and the Green Bay Redevelopment Authority filed the lawsuit in Brown County court on July 23, 2026. The city’s claims are allegations in the lawsuit, not court findings. Local reports said Merge had requested another extension before the filing, had not publicly commented and had not filed a court response as of the latest report. No hearing had been scheduled at that point.

What the private project was supposed to include

The disputed development agreement covered property at 236 Arndt Street and 101 Bridge Street. Merge’s proposed project called for two buildings with 225 residential units, about 4,000 square feet of retail space and restaurant-related space.

The agreement also targeted at least $15 million in new taxable value. That figure was a contractual or projected benchmark, not tax revenue already collected by the city.

Merge’s project page continues to describe the development as pre-construction. The apartments and commercial space should not be described as approved, under construction or completed.

What the city says went wrong

According to the lawsuit, Green Bay alleges that Merge failed to obtain financing within the required time, failed to begin or complete construction, did not meet the agreed assessed-value benchmark and did not provide required project updates.

The city also says it invested more than $1 million in improvements to the property before transferring it to Merge for $1 under the development agreement. Green Bay and the Redevelopment Authority are seeking termination of the agreement, return of the property and other relief.

Those requested remedies have not been granted. The lawsuit remains a pending court matter, and the property’s ownership and future redevelopment plan have not been resolved.

How this fits into the larger Shipyard project

The lawsuit concerns the private portion of the Shipyard redevelopment, not the separate city-led public waterfront work. City information says Phase I public improvements have been completed, with additional public amenities planned as part of a later phase.

That distinction matters for residents and visitors. Public park and waterfront improvements can continue on a separate track even while the city and Merge dispute the future of the private development site. The lawsuit, however, could determine whether the stalled property remains tied to Merge or becomes available for a new developer or redevelopment strategy.

What to watch next

The next concrete developments are likely to include Merge’s court response, the scheduling of any hearing and decisions about the property’s future if the city succeeds in ending the agreement. Until the court acts, Green Bay has not formally terminated the development agreement, and the property has not returned to city control.

Sources

• WBAY lawsuit report
• WTAQ-WLUK lawsuit report
• City of Green Bay Redevelopment Authority agenda
• City of Green Bay Shipyard project page