City, developer compromise on La Crosse new parking ramp cost overruns

Council agrees to pay 50% of additional costs on $17 million ramp

The city of La Crosse will pay more for a new downtown parking ramp but there’s a limit.

In a meeting Thursday night, the city council agreed to pay up to $200,000 more for what was supposed to be a $17 million parking ramp across the street from the county courthouse building at the Third and Pine street intersection.

The developer, Don Weber, wanted another $400,000 to deal with some unexpected soil contamination issues and other complications relating to utilities buried in the area.

In a compromise, the council agreed to pay 50 percent of costs above the original $17 million price tag, up to that $200,000 cap.

Construction began on the ramp last summer and could be complete by fall.