Neighbors of closed La Crosse library branch offer ideas on potential uses for building

Imagine that a large piece of property opens up in your neighborhood and you and the neighbors have to figure out how to use it.

That’s the situation being faced by the Holy Trinity-Longfellow neighborhood in La Crosse, because the South Branch library has closed.

About 40 people, including several city officials, met in the basement of the Faith United Methodist Church on Monday night to suggest ideas for the vacant building, which the La Crosse Library board voted to close last December, after $100,000 in city budget cuts to the library system.

Housing development received a large number of votes. Other ideas included using the land for a bar, a bank, a Kwik Trip or any similar 24-hour business.

People attending the meeting also wanted to be sure that a new use for the library does not disturb Tower Park, located on the building’s east side.

City committees and the common council will discuss ideas at their February meetings.

A tentative schedule proposes that the council would choose a development proposal by April or May.