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Housing, business favored options for reusing former La Crosse South Branch library building

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About 2 dozen people attended a La Crosse City Hall discussion of the South Branch Library building's future on April 24, 2024 (PHOTO: Brad Williams)

A branch library on 16th Street in La Crosse, that closed late last year, could be converted into housing or a commercial office.

Those are the leading options being considered by a La Crosse city commission that met Wednesday to hear proposals for the former South Branch Library building.

The assessed value of the building and land is $348,000.

Five prospective buyers presented proposals to the Economic and Community Development Commission, which voted to delay a recommendation for 60 days in order to study the new ideas.

Most of the suggestions involve preserving the former library building, which opened in the 1950s and was closed last fall by the library system to save money.

The commission is seeking more information on two plans for converting the building to housing, plus another to put an accounting office in the old library.

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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1 Comment

  1. waldenhuthut

    April 24, 2024 at 10:41 pm

    $350,000 but sorta like the Fish Hatchery Building where the lessee will never owe a dime in rent because the cost of all improvements is set off against the rent. Just like magic; a giveaway.

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