Port Plaza Mall (later known as Washington Commons) was an urban area shopping mall/multi-use facility located in downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Two years later, in 1988, Port Plaza underwent renovation that included the addition of neon light fixtures, new floor tiling, and fountains at center court.
However, the exodus of major tenants would continue, with McDonald's and Osco Drug leaving the mall in 2002, followed by Payless ShoeSource in 2003, and LensCrafters, Champs Sports, and Bath & Body Works in 2004.
Though Washington Commons would attract the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, who opened a satellite campus and offices in part of the former Boston Store court in 2004, the mall would receive two big blows in the closures of its last two anchors, Younkers and JCPenney, who both left for newer Ashwaubenon facilities in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Development Associates would take the issue to court, citing conflict of interest by the City and BayLake Bank (which happened to be the mall's lender).
[3] From February 27, 2006 until its razing, the Port Plaza Mall/Washington Commons property would remain vacant and closed to the general public, though janitorial and security services would be provided in case of potential development and inspection.
[6] The funding was part of an appropriations bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 29, 2010[7][8] but went nowhere in the Senate afterwards, especially with a new Congress taking over in 2011 that was generally against such earmarks (including Green Bay's new representative in Congress, Reid Ribble, who unseated funding supporter Steve Kagen in the 2010 general election).
[18] Spring Lake Church now has a downtown worship campus in the eastern half of the Baylake bank city center.