Environment
New parking ramp for UW-L campus approved by La Crosse city council
The La Crosse city council voted to allow the moving ahead with a new parking ramp project on the UW-La Crosse campus.
Thursday’s 11-1 vote to rezone land on 16th Street, to allow construction of a 500-car ramp, reverses a committee vote last week against the same plan.
Council member Mark Neumann, the lone no vote, wanted to send the ramp project back to committee for more study, arguing that the city should encourage alternatives to car use.
“It is a time for a revolution,” Neumann told the council. “It is a time for us to declare our intention to free ourselves of car culture.”
Neumann also referred to cars as “hurtling piles of steel.”
The request for more study was voted down.
City council member Barb Janssen said citizens have sent emails favoring the parking ramp. It was argued by others that the zoning vote had already been delayed until this month’s meeting.
Council member Erin Goggin spoke in support of a ramp, arguing that it would replace a 110-stall surface parking lot which has been used for years.
“I am well aware that the university maximizes their property usage,” Goggin said, “and it’s not their first choice to have parking, but it’s a necessary choice.”
The new ramp would replace a lot at 16th and Vine, located across the street from the university’s Center for the Arts.
Questions
March 14, 2024 at 9:19 pm
No mention of cost, has this project been approved by UWSystem and the legislature?
This is funded from the University capital budget right?
Sean w Copus
March 15, 2024 at 7:51 am
this communist Mark Neumann needs to give away his car and all appliances, remove the power from his home. if he is seen driving or using anything with fossil fuel (even electric cars) he should be fined $150 and or jailed. because that’s what this communist wants for everyone else.
Walden
March 15, 2024 at 10:16 am
I didn’t know there were any single family residences left in that area so that argument seems kind of weak to me. The proliferation of high density slum student housing has gone unchecked for decades.