La Crosse Seeks Bids for Surplus Police Center Site
The city is selling a surplus property for residential housing to help address a budget shortfall.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Residential
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The City of La Crosse has issued a request for proposals to sell its former Community Policing Center at 713 St. James Street for residential redevelopment. This effort seeks to address a budget shortfall while adding housing stock to the city's north side.
Why it matters
By selling underutilized municipal assets, the city aims to bolster its budget and increase local housing supply. Residents interested in property development or housing growth in the area should monitor how this sale influences future north side neighborhood projects.
The city property carries an estimated assessed value of $363,200. While the city expects the site to be sold for residential redevelopment, the final purchase price is currently unresolved.
The players
City of La Crosse
The municipal government managing local services and tax-funded assets.
La Crosse Common Council
The local governing body responsible for final approval of city property sales.
Economic and Community Development Commission
The city entity tasked with evaluating property development proposals.
The details
The city is inviting developers to submit plans for the former Community Policing Center, which was officially declared surplus in December 2024. Proposals must be submitted to the Planning Department, where they will be evaluated for their potential to fill a local budget gap and satisfy housing needs. A final sale of the property requires formal approval from the La Crosse Common Council after the commission reviews the submissions.
Timeline
December 2024: The property was declared surplus.
October 28, 2026: The commission discussed the request for proposals.
December 31, 2026: Proposal submission deadline.
January 27, 2027: Commission scheduled to evaluate submissions.
Money Landscape
This property sale follows the standard procedure set by the La Crosse municipal surplus property disposition policy. It reflects a wider trend of municipalities repurposing public assets to alleviate budget constraints and support residential expansion.
This development primarily affects local housing supply and potential residential real estate inventory in the north side neighborhood. Homeowners and prospective buyers should consider how new residential units on St. James Street might impact local property values and future community growth.
The takeaway
The city is leveraging surplus real estate to address budgetary goals while encouraging new residential construction. Prospective investors or community members interested in the transformation of this site should track the upcoming commission review on January 27, 2027.
What happens next
Interested developers must submit their proposals to the Planning Department by December 31, 2026. The Economic and Community Development Commission is scheduled to evaluate these submissions on January 27, 2027.
Further reading
For more on local housing trends, visit Residential.
More information
For more information on the proposal process, visit the City of La Crosse municipal website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WXOW.
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