Work on Fire Station 2 will start before Gillette Street site

Fire station 2 will come first. 

The La Crosse city council has voted to shift the priority for new fire stations, to start work on a new Station 2 along La Crosse Street first, before building a new Gillette Street station. 

Council president Martin Gaul says it would be a bad move to start work on the Gillette project before it’s decided whether the existing Station 4 will get historic preservation.  

“When you combine that with the fact that we have got four fire stations that, for lack of a better term, all suck, we have options available to us that we need to exercise,” said Gaul.  

The council voted 8 to 4 on Thursday night to start work on the La Crosse Street station plan, which would replace the existing Monitor Street firehouse.            

North side council member Scott Neumeister loves the old station, but says the building’s time has passed.

“That thing is shot,” said Neumeister. “Whether we like it or not, people, that thing is shot and it’s gonna cost a lot of money to repair.”    

Fire Chief Ken Gilliam says it may take 3 months at least before construction can start on either site.    

In other business, the council voted 10 to 2 for a zoning change on the former Gerrard Realty offices at 5th and Division.

A developer wants to replace the building with an apartment complex. Despite opposition from neighbors who say the area does not need more apartments, council members say more middle-income housing is needed for people who work downtown.