Council approves design, borrowing plan for La Crosse Center expansion

The big new overhang in Riverside Park appears to be a reality for La Crosse. The city council Thursday night approved a $49 million design for the La Crosse Center expansion.

It’s a design that includes a ballroom that hangs over the park, 28 feet in the air, covering a half-acre of green space.

It’s a design that has drawn criticism. But Jessica Olson, who represents the council on the La Crosse Center Board, says it’s the right design for the Center and the park.

She says critics just aren’t getting it.

“I don’t think in a million years that we’re going to end up with a disaster,” she said. “I think the vision of the parks board was in harmony with the vision of the La Crosse Center  and that is going to be the legacy expansion of our generation.”

The plan for the Center expansion will mean the city will borrow $43 million over 20 years, potentially costing the owner of a $120,000 property $1,200 over that length of time.

La Crosse mayor Tim Kabat reiterated his opposition to the plan during Thursday night’s city council meetring.