The Opportunity
The City of La Crosse assembled a half-block of blighted properties just south of downtown and used an RFP to seek housing that could address affordability, homelessness and neighborhood reinvestment at the same time.
The Challenge
The project had to serve households across income levels, include homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, incorporate supportive programming, and make a publicly assembled infill site financially and operationally sustainable.
The Approach
Respond to the city’s goals with a mixed-income building, long-term affordable units and on-site space for community partners such as Workforce Connections to provide job training and employment counseling. Sustainability was built in, with Energy Star Multifamily and Wisconsin Green Built Home Gold certifications.
The Result
The Collective on Fourth opened in May 2025 with 62 new apartments, reactivating a half-block near downtown. Most units are long-term affordable, with a portion for people exiting or at risk of homelessness, plus space for services and community programming.
Why It Matters
A city-led land strategy can become a platform for housing, supportive services and neighborhood repair — not simply a real estate transaction.