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The Washington Commons (former Port Plaza Mall) is in the throes of ruin. The failure of downtown malls has actually been quite common in cities across the U.S.

Click on the thumbnail image above to see a larger image showing shape of the existing mall (minus the Younkers building & other waterfront buildings that already have redevelopment plans)

The Port Plaza Mall suffered its demise for a variety of reasons. For one, the suburban malls and other competitors "did it in".  Many people perceive Downtown Green Bay as an area that is difficult to drive and park a car.

Since the mid-1990's, ideas to revitalize the mall have failed. The most recent effort was to convert it to a mixed-use "commons" with office spaces. This idea did not work for a variety of reasons, one being that the retail spaces are simply not designed to be offices; most are located along the dark, cold, unattractive mall corridors.

People can point to a number of other reasons the Downtown Mall has shut down.  

But let's look at the bright side. Other cities have transformed dysfunctional downtown shopping centers into gleaming downtown jewels.  There are many opportunities for this property now that the mall has been put out of its misery.  

It will be vitally important for the City of Green Bay to replace this mall site with something special. 

Green spaces

Misc Images

last updated 09/01/2007

Note: These renderings are incomplete: Some of the blue building facades are simply unfinished illustrations. Please check back later for updated images.

These conceptual designs, 3D illustrations, and web pages were created by Visualize IT of Green Bay