Former Sausage Factory May Have New Purpose

An historic building in La Crosse, battered by a tornado, may have more life left in it.   Former home of Bakalars Sausage on South Avenue was hit by the tornado that tore through the southside more than two years ago.  The building was so badly damaged that the company moved into a new facility in the city’s industrial park.  The old place has been under a raze or repair order from the city since then, receiving a couple of deadline extensions along the way.  Today, Mike Bakalars told the city’s public works board that he’s been talking with someone who’s interested in restoring and developing the building and hopes to close the deal by next June.  The board has agreed to give the company another extension in order to make the sale.