Of the seven buildings in Eau Claire that represent a “Commercial Vernacular” style, 2 S. Barstow is the oldest and largest. Built in 1907, the three-story building became the Eau Claire Gas Light Company, then Northern States Power, Union College, a dentist’s office, pool hall, art gallery, and a porn store, but has now sat empty for years. A recent attempt to beautify the dilapidated building covered the boarded-up windows with murals, but nothing has been done to restore it. The Eau Claire Redevelopment Authority recently stepped up their efforts and are looking for proposals for the purchase and redevelopment of the building, located downtown on the Eau Claire River. For business owners, 2 S. Barstow is in a prime spot, being a step away from the State Theatre, bike trail, public library, and Phoenix Park. But the site has its share of challenges as well, including access issues and a current lack of parking. As the building falls within the historic district, the RDA requires the buyer to preserve the historic look as much as possible, and with the expanding residential theme of loft apartments above Barstow stores, the buyer could lease space to renters or businesses. “Ideally it would become a focal point of activity,” says Mike Schatz, executive director of the RDA. “The preference is for retail use on the ground floor and office or residential on the upper two floors that addresses the need for mixed-use buildings downtown.” If sold, the murals may be given back to the artists, auctioned off to raise money for other art projects, or be used on other vacant buildings.