Story originally printed in the Onalaska Life or online at www.onalaskalife.com
Published - Friday, May 16, 2008
Franciscan Skemp buying land for Onalaska clinic expansion
Franciscan Skemp Healthcare plans to buy 10 acres of land just east of its Onalaska clinic at Theater Road and Midwest Drive for future expansion.
If the city of Onalaska approves subdividing the land for the project, Franciscan Skemp will buy 10 of 20 acres now owned by Green Bay-based Associated Banc-Corp. The subdivision review is on the agenda for the city Plan Commission subcommittee meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, 415 Main St.
La Crosse-based First Federal Capital Bank purchased the 20-acre Onalaska site in October 2003 and had planned to build its new corporate headquarters there. Associated acquired First Federal in October 2004, and the land has remained vacant.
Buying the 10 acres is logical because it’s adjacent to the clinic, Franciscan Skemp spokesman Rick Thiesse said Thursday. “One immediate need is related to parking expansion at our current clinic location,” he said. “Because of the rapid growth in this practice, more parking is needed for our patients’ convenience.”
Other expansion details are yet to be decided. Thiesse said the planning process will occur over the next year.
“I was heartened to hear they were choosing to expand their investment in Onalaska,” Mayor Mike Giese said. Franciscan Skemp is a key business leader in the community and was “most proactive and thoughtful” when it built the clinic, he said.
Franciscan Skemp opened its clinic at 191 Theater Road in September 2006.
All stories copyright 2006 Onalaska Life and other attributed sources.