Order approved by city board begins eminent domain process for road to Riverside North

For a major tract of old industrial that’s finally getting redeveloped in La Crosse, there’s a rough plan, a developer and an architect.

What’s lacking is a road to actually get into the Riverside North property. That’s going to change.

The city of La Crosse is taking steps to address that minor detail, starting a condemnation process.

Monday, the city’s Board of Public Works approved a document that essentially begins the process of exercising eminent domain over a small chunk of land needed for access to the 65 acre swath of land next to the Black River.

The city also intends to hire a negotiator for the process. The road into Riverside North has yet to be named but would extend what is called River Bend Road, which forms the entrance to the Three Rivers Plaza development on Copeland Avenue.

Of the 65-acre Riverside North, 26 acres will be developed into something that’s hoped to be worth $200 million or more some day.