Fish lab lease approved by council commitee

The plans for a party venue and an Air BNB at the former fish lab in Riverside Park are moving ahead. 

The La Crosse finance committee approved a proposed lease for the building on Thursday, sending it to the full city council for a vote next week. 

Park director Jay Odegaard admits that city staffers weren’t necessarily thinking of a B-and-B as the ideal use for the building.

“However, we understand that that created the financial sustainability that came along with the reservable space and the ability to offer food and beverage to parkgoers,” said Odegaard.

Eventually, that would increase to $7000 per month.

A zoning change to allow the party venue project was hotly debated for a few months, with neighbors of the park arguing that allowing events at the fish lab would lead to public drunkenness and noisy gatherings.