Sunset Ln. neighborhood hopes to keep apartments from going up

Those opposed fear decreased property values, increased traffic

A La Crosse neighborhood hopes for some help from the city council to beat back developers.

Those who live on Sunset Lane off of Hwy. 16 are frustrated by plans to erect a big apartment building in their backyards.

“We’ve given lots of our properties over to commercial use,” Connie Mell, one of those speaking out against the expansion plans for the Eagle Bluff Apartments, told a council committee. “We have a daycare center, we have a vacuum shop, we have a group home. Enough is enough.”

Most of those living in the neighborhood are in single-family homes, and those residents are angry and frustrated with the new plans. They don’t see how 16-plex apartments have anything positive to bring to the area.

“It only helps the developer make money,” Jim McDonald said. “This will profit the developer, of course, but for the community, for the neighbors, we are all going to be damaged in this financially and, like I said, the charm of the neighborhood.”

One of the biggest concerns is the increased traffic that could pose a risk to people living there, as well as decreased property values. 

“I want to preserve this neighborhood,” Mell said. “It used to be a beautiful, quiet neighborhood. But, now, we’re going to introduce more people living in apartments, more traffic.”

The La Crosse city council votes on whether to approve the measure this week.