Eco Cottages opens doors for Prairie residents
Prairie du Chien Mayor David Hemmer cuts the ribbon while Couleecap Executive Director Hetti Brown stands to his immediately left.
A look inside the Cottages’ community room, which is available to all residents. The Prairie Eco Cottages held a ribbon cutting and self-guided tour on April 21.
By Steve Van Kooten
Couleecap held a ribbon cutting for the new Prairie Cottages development in Prairie du Chien on April 21 at 10 a.m.
“This is a much-needed project in the city of Prairie du Chien,” said Mayor David Hemmer. “We’ve been working on this project since 2021.”
The Cottages are across from Mississippi Meats and the incoming Pizza Ranch location on Blackhawk Avenue.
The project, which began construction this past July, has already filled some of the units.
“We’re here today not just to celebrate this new housing development, but we’re here to talk about what is possible when you listen to community,” said Couleecap Executive Director Hetti Brown. “Prairie Eco Cottages was informed by community.”
Brown said people wanted affordable housing that could accommodate families, living space that residents could continue to live in as they aged, and a location in close proximity to schools, the downtown area and other necessities.
The property features two single-story buildings, with a total of 24 units that are a mix of one, two and three bedrooms. Units are 700, 900, or 1,100 square feet, depending on the number of bedrooms.
Residents will have access to a community room, garages, patios and driveway parking for residents.
The Cottages’ rent and utilities (excluding cable) are combined into a single monthly payment.
At an informational meeting held on Oct. 3, Couleecap Community Development Director Ashley Lacenski said units are available to residents at or below 30, 50 and 80 percent of the county’s median income. She also said rent for one of the units would range between approximately $450 and $1,000, depending on the size of the unit and the tenant’s income.
The Cottages feature a solar array along the entrance to the property. Couleecap received a grant from Solar for Good in June 2024.
The Couillard Solar Foundation and Renew Wisconsin provided further funding for the solar panels, according to Brown.
“We are here to celebrate what is possible when you build truly affordable housing that doesn’t just look at the cost of rent. It looks at other costs, like the cost of energy,” she told the crowd.
The project received a “highly competitive” tax credit award through Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).
The award generated $2.5 million in equity for the project, and the WHEDA supplied an additional $4.5 million in long- and short-term bonds and financing.
The total project cost is estimated to be around $7 million, according to information provided by Couleecap.
Couleecap partnered with Gerrard Development, LLC for the project and received further support from the city of Prairie du Chien, the Wisconsin Department of Administration, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and Focus on Energy.
Couleecap held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Cottages on July 24.
