Downtown Development

Momentum has continued in downtown Eau Claire in the past year, with the biggest boost coming in the form of something that has yet to happen: The announcement of the Confluence Project, a massive public-private, artistic-residential-commercial facility in the heart of downtown. While the project is far from reaching fruition, the fact it was even proposed burnishes the successes of the past decade, particularly the creation of Phoenix Park and the revival of North Barstow Street.

“I think it’s on a trajectory upward, and it’s never going back,” says City Council President Kerry Kincaid of the neighborhood’s fortunes. Kincaid notes that when she moved to town in 1977, North Barstow was an underused, polluted brownfield; now, it’s a community gem.

“I think it’s on a trajectory upward, and it’s never going back.”
-- Kerry Kincaid, Eau Claire City Council president

Mike Schatz, executive director of Downtown Eau Claire Inc. and the city’s economic development director, says the downtown continues to add entertainment options and a greater diversity of businesses, as well as more residents, businesses, and jobs and higher property values. The redevelopment of the North Barstow neighborhood is steadily proceeding: One new Riverfront Terrace apartment building opened in October and another was completed in January. In recent months JAMF Software said it wants to build a new headquarters building next to Phoenix Park and the U.S. Post Office announced plans to move nearby, opening its current location for redevelopment. Meanwhile, there have been numerous infrastructure improvements in the past year: The neighborhood successfully navigated a return to two-way traffic; parts of Galloway Street and First Avenue were rebuilt; and Graham Avenue was repaired. 

But there are rough patches, too. Residents rejoiced when a long sought-after downtown grocery store, Charlys Market, opened in the Phoenix Park neighborhood last year – and then despaired when it closed in January. Likewise, expect disruption for businesses, customers, and drivers when South Barstow Street is rebuilt this summer, although the result should be a plus for the community.

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Effort and performance in this subject have been strong, almost strong enough to silence naysayers who said reviving downtown was impossible. However, there is still much work to be done, particularly to bring the Confluence Project to completion and to maintain and expand other business and residential development.


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GUIDANCE AND SOURCES

Mike Schatz, executive director, Downtown Eau Claire Inc.; Kerry Kincaid, president, Eau Claire City Council; Dave Duax, Eau Claire City Council member; Downtown Eau Claire Inc. Annual Report; Esri Inc.