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Take action to support more housing in La Crosse
The La Crosse City Council is considering a pro-housing ordinance that would remove required minimums for off-street residential parking. Several years ago, the Council voted to remove the required minimum parking for commercial zoning and this ordinance would do the same for all residential properties.
Below, we break down what this means for affordable housing in La Crosse.
La Crosse's housing crisis
Space constraints, rising costs, and regulations hinder developers from building more housing in La Crosse. Residents are suffering because of this shortage.
- Median home sale prices increased by 36% (from $158,000 to $215,000) from 2019-2022
- Median rent increased by 42% (from $567 to $807) from 2012-2022
- Nearly half of La Crosse renters pay more than 30% of their income on housing
Potential solutions
La Crosse needs to build 200-230 units each year through 2030 to meet demand. Zoning changes, like reducing parking minimums, can open more space for housing. Other Wisconsin cities like Ashland, Winona, and Stevens Point have already partially or entirely removed minimums.
The true cost of parking
- Surface parking stalls cost about $10,000 each
- Multi-level parking stalls can cost up to $40,000 each
These costs are passed on to mortgage holder or tenants, driving up the cost of housing and making it harder for families to find a place that fits within their budget.
But where will I park?
This ordinance change does not ban off-street parking. Developers, like Habitat, will still build parking if residents want it. Instead of government dictating the number of spaces to be built, this ordinance allows owners to choose how much parking is actually needed.
Make your voice heard
Habitat for Humanity and our advocacy partners are supportive of this proposal to remove parking minimums. If you feel similarly and would like to express your support, we encourage you to write to City Council members by emailing a message to [email protected] before this Thursday, December 12.
Here's our suggested email:
Dear Council Members,
I am writing to support Agenda Item #24-1323 to remove off-street parking requirements. Current parking requirements take up valuable space that could otherwise be used for more housing, which our community desperately needs.
La Crosse needs to build 200-230 units each year to meet current demand. We can’t do that without removing barriers like the current parking minimums.
As a resident, I support more housing to boost our local economy and make La Crosse a more welcoming place for more families. Thank you for considering this issue.
Partner Family
Stories
Darshida has been working to become a homeowner for years. She is a passionate nurse, a dedicated mother to four boys, and a longtime La Crosse resident. After years of hard work and unforeseen obstacles, Darshida and her family moved into their new home in spring 2023.