1st Place: Downtown revitalization
2nd Place: More sprawl
3rd Place: YMCA

In a progression of choices that goes from positive to negative to inevitable, all three of your top responses in this category involve buildings. Once again, downtown revitalization tops your list of likely developments in the next 36 months. Everyone’s definition of “revitalization” is probably a bit different on this one. In terms of concrete and lumber, downtown Eau Claire’s physical landscape is certainly in the midst of revitalization – with new structures in various states of completion and new businesses moving in. On the geographical flipside, your votes pushed “more sprawl” into second place, affirming your faith that the Chippewa Valley’s cities will continue to add strip malls, factories, and housing developments to its outer, non-downtown-related borders. Your third most popular response was the YMCA’s plan to move from its downtown Eau Claire location, possibly to the corner of Menomonie Street and Clairemont Avenue … which is kind of like saying you believe a new president will be elected within the next  four years. – Mike Paulus