GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — Update: By a vote of 12-0 the Green Bay Common Council voted to relieve the company that owns the Hotel Northland of it's debt to the city as part of a proposal that allows the city to recover $1million of the $2.6 million dollars owed upon the sale of the hotel.
The board heard from Blake Malecha of Teritium Development, a private real estate and investment firm out of Dubuque, Iowa.
He said they specialize in reviving historic hotels and have plans to revitalize the Hotel Northland.
Mayor Eric Genrich of Green Bay issued the following statement on the city's decision:
"This is the best option for the City in a less-than-ideal scenario. The incoming owner understands the value and importance of the Hotel Northland to the City, and they're in a good position to improve the property for the benefit of the community. I wish the Council and administration hadn't been put in this situation, but I'm satisfied with the agreement we've negotiated, recognizing the alternatives were worse for the City financially and worse for the health of our downtown."
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Original reporting:
Green Bay city leaders are expected to make a key decision Tuesday night on a proposal involving Hotel Northland's $2.6 million debt to the city.
According to the proposal, the hotel's owner currently owes the City of Green Bay $2.6 million. If approved by the City Council, the hotel's LLC would be relieved of that financial obligation. In return, the city would receive $1 million when the hotel is sold.
The proposal comes as Hotel Northland once again finds itself at the center of a legal dispute over its future.
NBC 26 reviewed years of Brown County court records to trace how the hotel's legal challenges have unfolded.
Hotel Northland legal timeline
- February 2017: The first contract lawsuit is filed.
- Spring 2017: Additional contract and management disputes emerge.
- Summer 2017: Contractors sue over alleged unpaid work.
- August 2017: The project's primary lender asks the court to appoint a receiver.
- 2018: Hotel Northland is sold through a court-supervised process.
- 2019–2021: Most of the legal cases are resolved, and the receivership closes.
- 2025–2026: A new ownership and sale dispute emerges.
The Green Bay City Council is scheduled to discuss the proposal during its meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
NBC 26 will be at the meeting and will bring you the council's decision after the meeting concludes, both on-air and on NBC26.com.
