Delay affirmed on plan to donate La Crosse for veterans’ treatment facility

Another La Crosse city committee has agreed to hold off on deciding whether a veterans’ group home should be allowed in a residential neighborhood.

The city council committee Tuesday night agreed to wait 60 days before voting on turning a donated, seven-bedroom home into a transitional residence home for vets.

The home was donated to the Tomah VA by Dave and Barb Erickson.

Some opponents in the neighborhood said they’re scared for their children because of the planned use for the home.

Before the committee voted, Barb Erickson sought to mollify those neighbors scared because veterans with mental health or addictions would living next door. Barb Erickson suggested instead a learning moment.

“As parents, it’s up to us to teach our children to be compassionate and to be kind and to be accepting of people,” she said.

Mike Myre lives near the proposed property at 3120 Farnum Street. He has a children. He doesn’t like the proposal but is trying to keep an open mind.

“I don’t necessarily have a huge fear against veterans in these homes,” he said during the meeting. “Honestly, I don’t think anybody in this room has met anybody that would potentially live in this home. So, I think that’s a little bit of a rush to judgement.”

Myre suggest the home should be sold with the proceeds going towards a home for veterans somewhere more appropriate, other than his residential neighborhood.

The 7,800-square-foot home has been assessed at about $442,000 and generates roughly $13,000 in property taxes for local governments.

The vote also came after Vietnam veteran John Stokes urged council members to approve the proposal.

“They deserve help, they deserve treatments, they have a lot to give our country, they have a lot to give our community,” Stokes said. “They’re good people — men and women.”

Neighbors also expressed concerns about parking, traffic and other issues that could arise, having 10 people with potentially mental health or substance abuse problems living in the home on a rotating basis.