City Hall  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin  
400 La Crosse Street  
La Crosse, WI 54601  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Heritage Preservation Commission  
Thursday, June 22, 2023  
6:00 PM  
Council Chambers- Grandad Room 400 La Crosse St  
Members of the public may participate in the meeting in the following ways:  
View Virtually and Speak:  
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Or you may attend in person at City Hall located at 400 La Crosse Street. Members of the  
public who  
would like to provide written comments on any agenda may do so by emailing  
acklint@cityoflacrosse.org, using a drop box outside of City Hall or mailing the Department of  
Planning, Development and Assessment, 400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse WI 54601.  
Questions, call  
608-789-7512  
Call to Order  
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.  
Roll Call  
6 -  
Present:  
Absent:  
David Riel, Laura Godden, Mackenzie Mindel, Natalie Heneghan, Greg  
Clark,Eric Garland  
1 - John J. Satory  
Approval of Minutes  
Approval of the May 25, 2023 Meeting Minutes.  
1.  
David Riel motioned to approve. Eric Garland seconded. The motion passed  
6-0 by voice vote.  
Notices and Discussions  
Greg Clark reminded everyone that the La Crosse County Historical Society  
was hosting Silent City this weekend which is a series of one act plays.  
Agenda Items:  
Nomination of Abraham Lincoln Junior High School (Lincoln Middle School),  
located at 510 9th Street S, to designated as a Local Historic Landmark.  
(Main/Original Building)  
23-0618  
2.  
CM Mindel reminded the Commission that this was presented last month with  
designation. CM Mindel acknowledged there were attendees in the audience  
that wanted to speak and they should allow for public hearing. The motion to  
open public hearing was made by Natalie Heneghan, seconded by Greg Clark.  
The motion passed 6-0 by voice vote.  
Dr. Engel, Superintendent of La Crosse School District, spoke in opposition of  
the designation. Dr. Engel stated that the timeline for the notification of  
designation felt rushed and it was an injustice to put the school on the register  
after it went up for sale. He stated the ordinance should be modified to allow  
more time to make property owners aware of designation and what it means  
and to not be able to register buildings already put up for sale.  
Joe Ledvina, Director of Facilities of the School District of La Crosse, spoke in  
opposition of the designation. Ledvina stated that this item should be tabled  
until there is a new owner.  
Councilmember Woodard, District 9 Council Member, spoke in favor of the  
designation. CM Woodard stated there is a fear that the developer will  
bulldoze the property. He stated that the property belongs to all citizens of La  
Crosse.  
Phil Johnson, citizen of La Crosse, spoke in favor of the designation. Johnson  
stated that the purpose of the Heritage Preservation Commission is to preserve  
history and it should not take into account how much the school district will be  
able to sell the building for.  
Jo Ann Neve, citizen of La Crosse, spoke in favor of the designation. Neve  
stated that keeping the building will not restrict the developer and only  
requires keeping the shell of the building, offering flexibility with what is done  
inside.  
Cathy Van Maren, citizen of La Crosse, spoke in favor of the designation. Van  
Maren stated it is important to consider the historical value in addition to the  
sustainable value of keeping the building.  
Natalie Heneghan motioned to close public hearing. Greg Clark seconded. The  
motion passed 6-0 by voice vote.  
Laura Godden motioned to approve the designation. David Riel seconded.  
Natalie Heneghan stated that historic designation is a tool to protect the fabric  
and goals of the City. Heneghan thanked Cathy Van Maren for bringing up the  
climate costs of demolition. Heneghan stated that historical designation is a  
way to protect environmental interests along with other interests in the City.  
Heneghan said historical designation is not at odds with affordable housing  
and that all goals of the City can work together.  
David Riel stated that the job tonight to make a decision on the nomination in  
front of them. Riel stated the school building is a significant example of a  
piece of architecture in the City. Riel said we often identify cities on how they  
appear and the neighborhood has identified this building as part of the  
community. Riel stated that the developers can make money investing in these  
buildings and that this period of time will never happen again.  
The motion passed 6-0 voice vote.  
Communication from Wisconsin Historical Society on the nomination of Oak  
Grove Cemetery located at 1407 La Crosse Street, to the National Register of  
Historic Places.  
23-0738  
3.  
David Riel stated that this is a thoroughly put together nomination. Riel stated  
he is excited someone took the time and effort to put this together.  
Greg Clark stated that this is an incredibly asset to the city and he couldn't be  
more in favor of the nomination.  
There was a motion by Greg Clark for staff to send a letter of support on behalf  
of the Heritage Preservation Commission. The motion was seconded by David  
Riel. The motion passed 6-0 by voice vote.  
Adjournment  
The meeting was adjourned at 6:37 pm.  
Notice is further given that members of other governmental bodies may be present at the  
above scheduled meeting to gather information about a subject over which they have  
decision-making responsibility.  
NOTICE TO PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY  
Requests from persons with a disability who need assistance to participate in this meeting  
should call the City Clerk's office at (608) 789-7510 or send an email to  
ADAcityclerk@cityoflacrosse.org, with as much advance notice as possible.  
Heritage Preservation Commission Members  
CM Mackenzie Mindel, David Riel, Laura Godden, John Satory, Greg Clark, Natalie Heneghan,  
Eric Garland