Students Plan New Uses for Coulee Auto Shop
Logan Middle School seventh graders presented redevelopment ideas for the vacant north side building to city planners.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Secondary Education
Seventh graders at Logan Middle School presented redevelopment projects for the vacant Coulee Auto Shop on La Crosse's north side to city planning staff. The presentations took place on November 4, 2026, and marked the 16th year of the city's student redevelopment program.
Why it matters
The exercise gives local students a hands-on look at how vacant commercial buildings get turned into new uses, which is the same process that shapes neighborhood character, property values and what homeowners see on their own streets. Because the program has run for 16 years, it has become an established part of how La Crosse teaches its young residents about planning their city.
Seventh graders from Logan Middle School presented their proposals on November 4, 2026, for the vacant Coulee Auto Shop on La Crosse's north side. The city's program is now in its 16th year.
The players
Logan Middle School
A La Crosse public middle school whose seventh graders took part in the city's redevelopment project.
La Crosse Planning and Development Department
The city department that guided students through the redevelopment process and received their presentations.
The details
Students were assigned the task of re-purposing the empty Coulee Auto Shop, a vacant commercial building on the north side of La Crosse. City planning and development staff walked the students through the steps involved in creating a new development on the site. The students then presented their redevelopment ideas to city planners.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: Seventh graders presented their redevelopment projects to city planners.
This year marks the 16th year of the program.
The Home Front
Vacant commercial buildings like the Coulee Auto Shop are a recurring feature of older American cities, and redevelopment decisions shape nearby housing and neighborhood conditions. La Crosse's long-running student program places this local planning question in front of young residents early.
If you live near the north side of La Crosse, watch for city planning updates on the Coulee Auto Shop site as the proposals move forward. Homeowners and renters can also check city planning notices if they want to follow how the property is ultimately redeveloped.
The takeaway
Vacant buildings can be turned into useful neighborhood assets, and local planning decisions affect nearby homes. Keep an eye on city planning announcements for the Coulee Auto Shop site if you live on the north side.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education to see how schools across La Crosse are engaging students in local civic work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WXOW.
