Business
New apartment complex could replace several old houses close to UWL campus
Several houses on a block near West Avenue in La Crosse could be replaced soon by a new apartment complex.
The Benson Properties company is seeking a rezoning of parcels on the 1100 block of Pine Street, and one on 12th Street, to make way for an 18-unit apartment building.
Developer Eric Glamm of Benson answered questions about the project at a Monday meeting of the city plan commission.
“This proposal essentially knocks all those houses down, the old crumbling houses, and replaces those with a new structure that’s about two-and-a-half million in terms of value, compared to the $750,000 approximate value of the houses that are there,” Glamm told the commission.
The houses to be replaced have mainly been rented by college students. Glamm told the commission that new parking spots and green space would be included in the project. The plan commission approved the zoning for the apartments, sending the proposal to the city council.
Kevin
April 2, 2024 at 7:40 am
Those neighborhoods, and the one in which I live, is more than likely going to be taken over by the universities rental housing landlords. The city has no best interest in keeping those neighborhoods single family homes, the university absolutely does not want it that way.
Closing Emerson removes the idea that a family could live within walking distance of their schools, which is why we moved there. That anchor store will be gone. What other reason would there be to live in those neighborhoods. Living beside a house full of undergraduates and having to listen to their parties is not high on a list of ‘i wishes’ for new homeowners.
I don’t have much hope for LaCrosse as a city, it doesn’t appear to want to have residents in houses, or traditional neighborhoods.