La Crosse Center board could settle on new design today

A key vote on the La Crosse Center expansion plan could be taken this afternoon. 

The center board has a 4 p.m. meeting, where board members are likely to approve a design which will go to the city council for action in April or May. 

The clock is ticking on efforts to get a design in place, so construction on the $42 million renovation can start early next year. 

Back in July, the council voted down an extension which would have been built to the west, into Riverside Park, and that sent designers back to the drawing board to figure out other options. 

A new study says expanding the La Crosse Center could add another $6 million a year to the local economy.