Despite some opposition, plans to build new Coulee Council on Addictions center move ahead

Recovery facility would be built near Mayo and Lincoln Middle School. 

The project was just announced three weeks ago but it didn’t take long for south La Crosse residents to organize against having a drug recovery facility built near their homes.

Several people living near Mayo Health System and Lincoln Middle School gathered at La Crosse City Hall on Monday night in opposition to the Coulee Council on Addictions plans to build a recovery center in the 900 block of Ferry St.

Many of the concerns arise from the possibility of recovering addicts being near family homes.

Tess Sibley argued: “Every time I go in and out of my garage, in and out of my back and front door, hang out my clothes or walking my dog, there’s going to be people out watching me. And I object to that. My privacy should not be taken away.”

Cassandra Woodward was worried more for the kids.

“We now have 12 kids on this block – 10 of which are under the age of 8 – and they play in the alley and walk across the street to the gardens,” said Woodward who moved to a new house near Lincoln last year.

Some have argued that single-family homes should be built on the land owned by Mayo.

“It was clear during our negotiations that a lease was the only option,” CCA director Cheryl Hancock said. “So, to assume that they would sell the land to allow for single-family housing is mere speculation.”

Despite some opposition, the committee sent the rezoning plan on to the full city council on a 4-2 vote.

Council member Jacqueline Marcou said she supports the CCA mission, but she’d like the matter to be postponed so neighbors could have more time to study the proposal. The council judiciary committee deadlocked on the idea of making no recommendation, before saying ‘yes’ to the plan.