Council approves brewery parking, north-side storage units

Six houses near the City Brewery in La Crosse will be torn down for more employee parking, following a vote by the city council. 

The vote to develop the parking lots was 8 in favor, and 4 opposed.  Much of the opposition came from new members of the council, including Jennifer Trost, who says there’s no shortage of parking downtown.

“Our recent parking study shows we have plenty of secure parking downtown, in the ramps, and that’s a short distance away from the brewery,” Trost said. She suggested that the city should do more to discourage single-car commuting.    

The brewery’s expansion plans call for them to build onto land being used now for parking by company workers.      

Scott Neumeister of the council says permitting parking would help a company that has contributed jobs and money to the community.

Neumeister says the houses to be demolished are “major eyesores.”

“The houses lived their life, just like everyone else,” said Neumeister. “But they’re past that now.”

North La Crosse will get a new storage building along the southbound approach into downtown. 

The council has approved storage units for a lot on Copeland Avenue, to replace rundown property, although city planning director Andrea Trane would prefer to see the land put to a different purpose.    Three council members also opposed the storage building plan. 

The city council also voted to sell bonds for $69 million to expand the wastewater treatment plant.