Chileda moving
Reprinted with permission. May 2003
By Terry Rindfleisch Of the Tribune staff

Chileda, a residential treatment center for children and young adults with autism and related developmental disabilities, plans to construct a new building in La Crosse in about two years.

Don Heidel, founder and president of Chileda, confirmed this week that Chileda has to move from its present location at 1020 Mississippi St. on the Franciscan Skemp Medical Center campus.

Since 1980, Chileda has leased the single-story building and land from Franciscan Skemp, which wants to use the 22,000-square-foot property for future expansion or parking as part of its long-range plans. Heidel said Chileda is developing a plan to build a two-story structure on Ferry Street between 9th and 10th streets on the Franciscan Skemp campus, three blocks north of its present location.

The proposed Chileda building would sit on 15,000 square feet of land and would have a basement and two floors. Heidel said Chileda will begin a $6 million capital campaign to raise money for the building during its 30th anniversary celebration in June.

He said he hopes ground-breaking can take place in two years. The building could open in three years, Heidel said.

"Two years ago we got a heads-up from Franciscan Skemp and Mayo that our property fits in with their long-range plans, and they asked us to start planning then," Heidel said. "They have been good to us. They never forced us to do anything; that's their generosity."

Heidel said he wants the new building to fit into the neighborhood and look like the surrounding houses. He met with members of the neighborhood association Thursday.

Dan Schaefer, Franciscan Skemp vice president, said Franciscan Skemp needs more space to support a growing medical practice and for parking. Schaefer said there are no specific plans for the Chileda site now, but in 10 to 20 years there could be a parking ramp at that site.

He said the plan to sell land to Chileda for a new building has been approved by the Franciscan Skemp board of directors. He said the building plan would have to be acceptable to the city and neighborhood before any sale was completed.

Heidel said Chileda has needed more space for some time.

"It is a good move for Chileda, and it's good for our campus," Schaefer said. "The area will have the look of an urban campus design."

A survey indicated that Chileda employees wanted to work near the present location and felt a location near Franciscan Skemp and Viterbo University was ideal, Heidel said.

"It's good to be on a medical campus, the neighborhood has been good to Chileda, and we want to stay in the neighborhood - and add to the neighborhood," Heidel said.

Stewart Laird, former Franciscan Skemp president, encouraged Chileda to move from Stevens Point, Wis., to La Crosse in 1977. Chileda occupied Holy Cross Seminary before moving to its Mississippi Street location.