Embracing the future, honoring the past
The River Point District neighborhood perfectly blends progressive thinking with reverence for the past. It honors La Crosse’s legacy as a booming river town, yet strives to support the city’s identity as a forward-thinking, integrated community of regional and international influence.
A site significant to La Crosse’s past, present and future
The River Point District neighborhood brings unlimited possibilities to a site rich in history. Revered by Native Americans for millennia, the site has always been abundant in native flora and fauna. The arrival of European settlers brought more trade and eventually transformed the point into a booming hub for river and rail commerce (logging especially).
Throughout the twentieth century, the land housed a variety of industrial endeavors. In the mid-1990s, the city of La Crosse renewed its efforts to reclaim the injured property and improve its use and position within the community. The creation of River Point District effectively restores economic viability and environmental sustainability to one of La Crosse’s most important geographical areas.
Land and history worth protecting
The River Point District shoreline overlooks the shipwreck site of the War Eagle, a Civil War era, sidewheel riverboat that sank in flames into the Black River in 1870. River Point District is also near the historical Peavey Site (named after the multi-purpose peavey logging tool), which housed a small number of artifacts pre-dating the settlement of La Crosse. River Point District will honor and help preserve both historical sites as well as the integrity of the overall area.
Careful preparation to create remarkable results
The City of La Crosse has been working toward creating the River Point District neighborhood since 1995, when it began buying parcels of land for development within the larger overall site. Throughout the following years, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of La Crosse has acquired and remediated the three primary former industrial properties within the project area and raised the site a minimum of two feet above the 100-year flood plain elevation.
Additional noteworthy milestones in the progress of the River Point District neighborhood include:
Fall 2014
Week-long charrette (master site planning process) completed using the National Charrette Institute’s NCI Charrette System™ and LEED ND® planning process
Spring 2016
Requests for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) document released to development companies and investors
November 2016
Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) document distributed to master developers
January 2017
Requests for Proposal (RFP) document distributed to master developers
February 2017
Amended RFP document distributed to master developers
May 2018
WiRED Properties, LLC, selected as master developer during a special Redevelopment Authority meeting
The City of La Crosse is currently expanding and refining infrastructure throughout the River Point District neighborhood site and working with developers and investors to inspire project interest and commitments.
Featured
May 27, 2022
Red Earth, LLC, shares plan for three-phase, varied-dwelling project for River Point District
Red Earth, LLC, of Tomah, Wisconsin, presented their proposal for planned mixed-use, multi-family and townhome developments in the emerging River Point District neighborhood. Red Earth is proposing a three-phase project resulting in three different types of dwellings in locations throughout the neighborhood. Phase one includes the construction of a 50-unit, five-story mixed-use property in the […]
News
April 12, 2022
Invasive plant removal underway at River Point District
LA CROSSE, Wis., April 12, 2022 – Removal of invasive and undesirable brush and trees is currently underway at River Point District. The City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department has contracted Les Manske & Sons Excavating & Landscaping of Stoddard, Wisconsin, for the project, which involves the floodplain forest and emergent wetland […]
January 21, 2022
Merge Urban Development Group shares vision for new development project for River Point District
Merge, of Madison, Wisconsin, and Cedar Falls, Iowa, presented their proposal for a mixed-use development project in the emerging River Point District neighborhood. Merge is known for partnering with progressive Midwestern communities to develop next-generation real estate in opportunity zones with strong revitalization potential. Explore the full Merge Urban Development Group proposal.
June 8, 2021
Officials gather to mark beginning of River Point District site prep
The first load of fill delivered to the site of River Point District June 8, is a tangible sign that the visionary mixed-use riverfront development, in the planning for more than 25 years, is becoming a reality.
March 9, 2021
F Street Development Group has joined the redevelopment of River Point District
Milwaukee, WI – As of February 23, 2021, F Street Development Group (FSDG) has entered into a Planning Option Agreement with the Redevelopment Authority of La Crosse (RDA) to develop a parcel in their recently envisioned River Point District. River Point District is a forward-thinking vision for a vibrant, contemporary, mixed-use waterfront neighborhood in La […]