Green Bay delays, Las Cruces approves vacant-property registries

Green Bay’s City Council sent a proposed vacant-building registry back to committee, delaying a vote on a plan requiring owners of vacant commercial buildings to register within 60 days and pay rising annual fees, starting at $500 and reaching $4,000 from the fourth year onward. Supporters say the fees could encourage owners to address long-term vacancies and help revitalize neighborhoods; the proposal was prompted in part by complaints about a long-empty former paintball and laser tag facility. Realtors, developers and some council members argue the measure could deter investment or overreach, while the proposal exempts certain properties, including those actively marketed, under renovation or affected by legal proceedings; failure to register could bring daily fines.