Apartment complex for transitioning homeless could be big for La Crosse

The 57-unit apt. would be developed by private nonprofit

A big development on the north side of La Crosse could be groundbreaking for the city in more than one way.

First, the 57-unit apartment complex next to the Kane St. community garden looks to tackle some of the city’s need for decent housing for those transitioning from homelessness or with low incomes – but in a mixed development.

It also could become a model for development within the north side floodplain, and then there’s the coordination with the community garden itself, says city council rep. Ryan Cornett.  

“They need electricity,” Cornett said. “They want a classroom, because all they really have is that pole shed out there. They want something covered and they want to be able to work with the community in that process.”

There are a couple of hurdles though, says Cornett. The biggest is the need to win the competitive process for getting low-income housing tax credits from the state. No credits, no development, Cornett says.

“We’ve been trying to work on these types of populations and improve neighborhoods and make them more diverse for awhile,” Cornett said. “This is a good step in that direction. Also, it helps us with redevelopment in the floodplain.

“I hope they get the credit. It’s all based on that. But if they get those credits, it’s going to be another great thing for the area here.”

The city council also needs to rezone the area for the new complex and rescind park land status that half block of land received several years ago. Any of those could derail the project.  Otherwise, the first tenants could begin moving in April, 2019.  

Neither of those appear to pose a problem for the project, however that will get developed by a private nonprofit organization.