Specialist contract approved to help with eminent domain process for Riverside North

The process for the city of La Crosse to take over a key section of land at the Riverside North development takes a step forward this week.

A city board has approved a proposal to hire what’s called a ‘right of way specialist’ for $5,100 to help acquire about 20,000 square feet of land next to Copeland Avenue through eminent domain.

The land would become the entrance to the 65-acre Riverside North site — 26 acres of which will be turned into a development.

The entrance would essentially become an extension of River Bend Drive.

The entire piece of property, owned by the Wettstein family, is appraised at $369,000, according to county land records.