Billboard property among Packers' latest acquisitions


ASHWAUBENON – The Road Star Inn on True Lane is the final property the Green Bay Packers need for complete ownership of the block from South Ridge Road to Marlee Lane.

The team recorded the purchase of the billboard that towers above The Blind Ref restaurant on Friday. It bought the billboard property for $50,000 on Dec. 5. The tiny parcel was assessed at $3,800 and 2014 taxes are $75.40.

Also this year, the team acquired four other parcels outside the Ridge-to-Marlee area specifically designated for commercial development. The parcels are:

•2031 S. Ridge Road. The Packers paid $441,000 on May 28, according to the Brown County Register of Deeds office. The assessment was $144,200 and 2014 taxes are $2,794.80.
•1076 Blue Ridge Drive. The Packers paid $201,000 on July 1. The assessment was $139,900 and 2014 taxes are $2,599.
•2054 Barberry Lane. The Packers paid $193,500 on July 31 for the land. It was assessed at $151,900 and 2014 taxes are $2,837.30.
•211 S. Ridge Road. The Packers paid $530,000 on Oct. 15. The assessment was $219,600 and 2014 taxes are $4,290.50.
It is possible the Packers reached an agreement on the Road Star Inn and not yet recorded the transaction. Wisconsin law does not set a deadline for recording transactions. The Packers do not comment on acquisitions before they are filed.

The billboard and 1076 Blue Ridge Drive were acquired by Green Bay Development, one of the entities the Packers established for land purchases. Green Bay Packers Inc. acquired 211 and 2031 S. Ridge Road and 2054 Barberry Lane.

The Packers now own 61 parcels near Lambeau Field, all in the village of Ashwaubenon, totaling more than 64 acres. Property taxes on the land for 2014 are $936,000, a 35 percent increase over 2013 taxes. The biggest increase was for 1994 Lombardi Ave., where Cabela's is located. The tax bill went from $120,718 to $334.305.

The team plans to develop land west of Lambeau Field to provide it with non-football sources of income, similar in concept to New England's Patriot Place adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Patriot Place includes restaurants, retail shops, a movie theater, a hotel and a Bass Pro Shop.

The Packers' one development so far is the Cabela's outdoor sporting goods store at Lombardi Avenue and Argonne Street near U.S. 41, which is not adjacent to the South Ridge Road-to-Marlee Lane block, but is the gateway property to the Lambeau Field district.

The team has been removing unoccupied buildings on the acquired properties. At present, they are razing the former Kmart building.

Property south of Lambeau Field is used for parking, and team president and CEO Mark Murphy has said it will not be used for commercial development.

Also, the team owns land east of the stadium along Mike McCarthy Way, formerly Potts Avenue.
— rryman@greenbaypress gazette.com and follow him on Twitter @RichRymanPG or on Facebook at Richard Ryman-Press-Gazette. Contact him at (920) 431-8342