A study commissioned by La Crosse County found the County Farm property in West Salem could support 1,145 housing units.Consultants presented the study to the La Crosse County Board on Monday after presenting a similar, countywide housing assessment. They maintained that the 111-acre property near Lake Neshonoc would be attractive to both developers and renters.
They also cautioned that the project’s greatest risk was community resistance — a concern that seems well-founded.
Several members of the board, as well as a West Salem trustee, voiced concerns that the village’s government and school district haven’t been sufficiently included in the project...
Leo's notes: As an advocate for housing affordability and reform, this development underscores a familiar challenge across Wisconsin: large-scale sites capable of meaningfully addressing housing shortages often encounter local resistance before planning even begins. With La Crosse County projected to need roughly 4,900 new housing units over the next decade, projects like the County Farm property could play a critical role in regional supply — but only if local governments, school districts and residents are brought into the conversation early and collaboratively.
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- - Volume: 26 - WEEK: 12 Date: 3/19/2026 9:39:57 PM -