La Crosse Developer Broke Ground on Mixed-Use Project
The Copper Rocks project will replace a vacant retail site with 247 housing units for the local community.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Developers officially broke ground on the Copper Rocks project at the site of a former K-Mart in La Crosse. The development will transform the dormant property on Losey Boulevard and State Road into a mix of commercial space and 247 housing units.
Why it matters
The project signals a significant shift for the local neighborhood as it finally moves forward after being stalled by high interest rates. It represents a major redevelopment effort to reclaim commercial space that has sat empty for nearly a decade.
The development plan calls for 247 housing units at the site, which has sat vacant for 10 years since the original retailer shuttered.
The players
Three Sixty Real Estate Solutions
A developer tasked with the conversion of the dormant retail property into a new mixed-use residential and commercial asset.
The details
Three Sixty Real Estate Solutions is moving forward with the site conversion after initial plans surfaced in 2021. Demolition of the former K-Mart structure is slated for early next year to prepare the land for new construction. The project is designed to integrate both residential and commercial components to modernize the intersection.
Timeline
The K-Mart store closed its doors in 2017.
Initial project plans were made public in 2021.
The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The former K-Mart structure is scheduled for demolition in early 2027.
Phase 1 of the Copper Rocks project is expected to open by summer 2028.
Market Landscape
This project follows the pattern set by the nationwide wave of big-box retail store closures that began in the late 2010s. It reflects a growing industry trend of municipalities seeking to repurpose abandoned commercial footprints for mixed-use residential development.
Operators in the surrounding area should monitor the construction timeline for potential traffic disruptions near the Losey Boulevard intersection. Local businesses should also anticipate a long-term shift in neighborhood foot traffic as the site transitions from a vacancy to a multi-unit complex.
The takeaway
The Copper Rocks project highlights how long-stalled development plans can gain new momentum as financing conditions stabilize. Owners should watch the site's progress as a potential indicator of local appetite for large-scale housing and commercial infill projects.
Further reading
For more on local business site developments, visit the Openings & Closings section.
Live Poll
Do you believe redeveloping abandoned retail properties into housing helps your local community?
