Memorial to old Naval Reserve Center being discussed by La Crosse city committee

La Crosse used to have a Naval Reserve Center on Green Bay Street for decades, until it was torn down 15 years ago, making way for housing.

After the building was removed, a campaign began to mark the site with a memorial to the Reserve Center. That project is now gaining momentum with the city Finance and Personnel committee considering a proposal at Thursday night’s monthly meeting for a transfer of land to a developer with the goal of installing a navy memorial there.

“I think we just need to get started talking,” former city council member Tom Sweeney, the chair of a committee planning a memorial, said. “Now that (home construction) is basically done over there, with the homes being built, now it’s really time to sit down and look at what can happen there.”

The Navy moved out of the reserve center in 2006, according to Sweeney.

The full city council will be asked to review the memorial plans and decide on how to use certain land at the reserve site next week Thursday.