Alley vacation near Mayo could be delayed by La Crosse city council

Mayo is getting ready to break ground for its new hospital building in La Crosse, but a city council committee still has questions about removing an alley to make way for the project. 

The finance committee has approved a 30-day delay on the vacation of an alley near the current hospital.  Mayor Mitch Reynolds says a delay isn’t going to help the hospital project.

“What we’re doing is we’re limiting their ability to move forward on this incredible project for the city of La Crosse,” says Reynolds. “This is part of their entire project. It’s not separate from the hospital, it is part of the hospital project.”    

Several neighbors of Mayo are concerned that losing the alley between 10th and 11th Streets will limit their ability to travel in that area.   Council member Mackenzie Mindel says she has been contacted by 20 to 30 people over three days about the alley project.

Mayor Reynolds said that getting rid of an alley is not an unusual move, noting that an old alley near the Main Street library was recently vacated. 

A groundbreaking for the new hospital is set for next week.