La Crosse’s Residential Expansion is Slowing to a Halt

Residential building permit applications are down over the last three years, while the UW-La Crosse freshman class is increasing.  

According to Dave Reinhardt, the city of La Crosse is becoming land-locked. With Onalaska to the north and not much useable land to South, there is not much room to expand. 

"There aren't many single-family lots left in La Crosse," says Reinhardt, chief inspector for the city of La Crosse. 

With the freshman class growing each year and the presence of two other universities, finding off campus housing could become more competitive.  The freshman class at UW-La Crosse for 2011 is 1,950 compared to 1,800 for 2010.  Rent has been going up too, according to Reinhart.

Students looking for off-campus housing need to begin searching in early October and committing by the end of the month in order to have a have fair amount of decent housing options. 

There is still a lack of adequate housing on campus too.  Even with the new hall open, adding 500 beds, there is still a need for having triple-double rooms and for using studies as dorm rooms.