Street vacation supported near Hogan building, as La Crosse prepares for new school

The headquarters of the La Crosse school district could be the site of a brand new school within a couple of years, and the city of La Crosse is helping the project along.

The city council judiciary committee is the latest group at City Hall to approve plans to vacate a block of Winnebago Street, next to the Hogan building. The full city council is likely to vote on the street vacation next week.

District facilities director Joe Ledvina tells the city committee that Hogan could be demolished before the end of this year, in November or December, with construction beginning next spring. The new school is scheduled to be ready by the fall of 2027, replacing Spence and Emerson Schools.

Ledvina told the committee that the new school building will be a great addition to the Hogan neighborhood, using solar and geothermal energy. That school could also have a section three stories tall, allowing for more green space outside the building.