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While one La Crosse committee voted against, another votes unanimously for city’s purchase of Marine Credit building

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FILE - The former Marine Credit Union building on Monitor Street in La Crosse, Wis. (PHOTO: Brad Williams)

While the plan to convert a north-side building into affordable housing was voted against by one La Crosse city committee earlier this week, another had gone in the opposite direction.

La Crosse’s Finance And Personnel Committee last night voted unanimously in support of the city purchasing the Marine Credit Union building on Monitor Street.

Tuesday, the city’s Judiciary and Finance Committee voted 5-2 against the plan.

The full city council will debate the idea at Thursday’s meeting.

The concern Tuesday was mostly due to the $9 million price tag to build 30 apartments. The city would purchase the building for $2.2 million. American Rescue Plan Act money would be used.

And while it may not have the fanfare, this plan does not seem all that different from what the city finished almost exactly five years ago with the purchase of the Roosevelt School on the north side for the same purpose.

That plan cost about $7 million and wrapped up in 2017. The building was converted to rent one- and two-bedroom apartments for $685 or $885 a month for those making below 60 percent of the county’s median income.

The project was helped finance through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority with tax-exempt bonds around $5.8 million.

The school was built in 1923 and had historic significance, and was pushed by city council member Andrea Richmond, while US House Rep. Ron Kind spoke at the ribbon cutting.

Gorman and Co. remodeled the classrooms, gym and other parts of the school into 33 affordable apartments. The only city money used on the project was a loan to Gorman for around $300,000.

Host of WIZM's La Crosse Talk PM | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduate | Hometown: Greenville, Wis | Avid noonball basketball player and sand volleyballer in La Crosse

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