Confluence Primer Part 3 - Why Here, Why Now
The April 1st election brings two referendums, one from the city and one from the county. It’s critical you understand how to vote, and get you and your friends to the polls.
Part 3
Why is this the right plan for right now?
WHY HERE?
1 Downtown Eau Claire needs redevelopment.
The city of Eau Claire’s long-neglected core still needs significant investment to flourish. After early success in the North Barstow area, the focus has now turned to South Barstow. The Confluence Project would bring nearly $80 million in public, private, and donor investment into a disused and crumbling area. The mixed-use building would include apartment-style quarters for students, who would bring their vitality and spending power downtown; it would also include businesses such as restaurants and shops, which – along with the performances – would attract more visitors.
2 The city already plans to building a public plaza.
Whether or not the Confluence Project occurs, the City of Eau Claire plans on investing $2.5 million to create a public plaza on the Haymarket site, which today is a parking lot. This new public space will be designed for use at different times of day as well as year-round.
3 A great place deserves a great facility.
Rivers have been economically and culturally vital to Eau Claire since the city was founded. Changing attitudes have brought renewed focus to our downtown, and the Confluence Project would create a facility that could draw the whole community together, as well as attract visitors.
WHY NOW?
1 University funding will soon be off the table.
UW-Eau Claire will seek $25 million from the UW System Board of Regents for its share of the Confluence Project’s cost. If the city referendum passes, another referendum on the city’s contribution would be required, pushing UWEC past its deadline for asking for state funding. If this occurs, it will turn to Plan B: requesting funds for an oncampus facility instead of working with the broader community.
2 A bold plan’s on the table.
After decades of hand-wringing about the fate downtown, a group of partners – including UWEC, the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, and Commonweal Development – have proposed a bold idea to jump-start the neighborhood economically and culturally. This doesn’t happen often in our community. Now is not the time to hold back and look for excuses to say “no.”
3 Our facilities don’t have much time left in them.
The State Theatre needs $6 million to $10 million in renovations, and even then will still be physically inadequate for the technical needs of 21st century productions. UWEC’s Kjer Theatre is slated for demolition, and Haas Fine Arts Center is outdated, too.
4 UWEC needs housing.
For years, UW-Eau Claire has lacked adequate on-campus housing, forcing the university to place some students in motels. The apartment-style quarters for 300 students that would be part of the Confluence Project’s mixed-use building would help alleviate this problem.
5 It will inspire new investment and development.
In fact, even the possibility of the Confluence Project has spurred investment. JAMF Software is building a $7 million headquarters across the river next to Phoenix Park in anticipation of further revitalization, and JAMF co-founder Zach Halmstad’s property firm recently purchased the former Ramada nearby with the intention of reviving it. Other projects are in the works and will surely follow.
What can I do?
So, when's
the vote?
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The April 1st election brings two referendums, one from the city and one from the county. It’s critical you understand how to vote, and get you and your friends to the polls. |
County Referendum:
Should the County of Eau Claire pledge $3,500,000 to help fund the construction of the ”The Confluence” Community Arts Project located in downtown Eau Claire?
“YES” would support the Confluence Project and send a message to WI state officials that our citizenry wants to help move this community forward.
“NO” would oppose the Confluence Project, likely turn away WI state support, and kill the project.
City Referendum:
Shall a charter ordinance be enacted that would require a binding referendum before $1,000,000 or more in city funds can be expended on any building contruction that is planned for dramatic, musical, or artistic performances?
“YES” would lead to a lengthy delay and second referendum on the Confluence Project, thus likely killing the project due to WI state funding timelines. But a ‘yes’ would also cause other unrealted problems and fights in the future for City governing and capital projects.
“NO” would defeat the proposal and allow the $5 million pledge the City Council already made to move ahead, which costs taxpayers nothing since it would be funded by the project’s future property taxes.
But I Heard ...
But I heard those old buildings would have been remodeled if it weren't for this.
That’s highly unlikely. Some buildings slated for demolition have been vacant for years and repeated attempts to revitalize them have fizzled. If the Confluence Project fails, they likely will be demolished anyway, but what replaces them won’t be nearly as extensive or beneficial to the community.
But I heard this would be in a floodplain.
True, but so was much of North Barstow before redevelopment there. Fill will be added to raise Confluence buildings above the floodplain, and new technology can keep lower levels dry even if there is a flood.
But I heard there’s not enough parking to support this downtown.
“Lack of parking” is perception, not reality. A 2012 survey conducted on a Saturday when events attracted 2,500 people downtown found only 50% of spots on the south side of downtown were used.
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The Confluence Project presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet the Chippewa Valley’s cultural and economic needs by creating a shared performing arts complex, public plaza, and commercial development with housing in the heart of downtown Eau Claire. Over the next four issues of Volume One, we’ll be examining the Confluence Project piece by piece to provide answers to some of the common questions and highlight the enormous opportunities embodied in this ambitious and community-shaping effort. |
