The future of Military Avenue

GREEN BAY - Bay Motel and Family Restaurant has made its home on Military Avenue for 50 years.

Owner Dan Burich tells FOX 11, "Things have changed, and they're not for the better, they're for the worse."

Dan Burich is the third generation running the family business. He's is well aware of the city's plans to reconstruct Military Avenue, but says more than a new road is needed.

"It's not just a road, but you need a whole new business plan and I think the city's gonna need to partner up with us," said Burich.

One business owner says the area has some great advantages, such as parking, accessibility, and reasonable rent.

Edward Martin owns H.J. Martin & Son on Military Avenue. Martin says of the district, "It could be whatever you want it to be. It has endless possibilities but we do need help from the city."

Edward Martin's home interiors business has been on Military Avenue for 50 years. He'd like to see more green space on Military, and he'd also like to see it link up directly, with more of an "entrance" from nearby Lombardi Avenue...and he'd like to see the city be a part of that.

Martin tells FOX 11, "The city's looking for more tax dollars, there's very little places they can go and this is the next area they could help."

Green Bay's mayor says the city has worked to improve Military Avenue, and its up to the businesses to build on that.

Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt tells FOX 11, "If they want to take it to the next step and actually form a business district where there would be additional taxation to help promote that district, and they can decide if they want to do that or not, and I think that would be supported by the city, but again I think the city, with the zoning and the infrastructure, we're gonna leave it up to the private sector now to take it to the next level and I think that will happen and I think it's gonna happen relatively quick."

Military Avenue will see changes in the future, just what, and how those changes come about remains to be seen.

About 30 businesses in the area are part of the Military Avenue Business Association, which was established about a year ago.