B7 Flats Aims for Community and Amenities in Downtown Eau Claire
focus on the details makes new apartment building – opening Sept. 1 – stand out
With the motto “Modern Living, Downtown Convenience,” B7 Flats aspires to be a premier community for those who want to live in style while experiencing everything downtown Eau Claire has to offer.
After years of planning and construction, finishing touches are being put on the five-story apartment building at 224 N. Barstow St., just steps from Phoenix Park and next to the new Menomonie Market Food Co-op. The 111 units – which range from cozy but classy alcove apartments to spacious two-bedroom units with dens – will be available Sept. 1.
“For the people that like the urban life, this is as close as you’re going to get to it in Eau Claire,” says developer Geoff Moeding, who brings years of experience in both the Chippewa Valley and the Twin Cities to the project. In fact, Moeding was one of the partners who first began redeveloping the Phoenix Park neighborhood in the early 2000s.
Now, Moeding is helping craft the final – and most luxurious – piece to the redevelopment puzzle in the neighborhood on what was previously a parking lot dubbed Block 7. In fact, that’s where the name “B7” came from.
Nicole Sanders, director of marketing for Compass Real Estate Management, which will manage the building, is excited to share what the building offers to prospective residents.
“The ownership group took all of their experience from all of the years of doing what they do best, then pulled the best ideas and put them into this property. Our hope is that people will move in and make this their long-term home.”
“The ownership group took all of their experience from all of the years of doing what they do best, then pulled the best ideas and put them into this property,” she said. “Our hope is that people will move in and make this their long-term home.”
It’s hard to imagine people or their pets (more on them later) will want to leave once they see B7 Flats. From the extra-wide hallways to the nine-foot ceilings, from the rooftop patio to the spacious community room, from the soft-close kitchen drawers to the ample closets, B7 Flats gets the details right.
Inside, the windows are enormous, offering peerless views of the downtown, the Chippewa River, and beyond. Bedroom windows feature black-out roller shades, while the rest of the windows have privacy roller shades. Instead of carpets, all units feature luxury vinyl flooring, and every unit includes a full-size front-load washer and dryer. There are several floor plan options, including first-floor units opening onto Wisconsin Street.
After entering the building with a key fob from North Barstow Street, residents will be greeted by a seating area that doubles as the mailroom to the left, while to the right is a fitness center featuring Pelotons, treadmills, free weights, and more – all included in the rent. Further inside is a secure room for packages to give residents peace of mind.
Next comes some of B7 Flats’ most unique features: A dedicated dog-washing room not far from the exit to a fenced-in dog run dubbed the “Bark Park.” Like all Compass properties, B7 Flats prides itself on being pet-friendly, catering to dogs under 40 pounds as well as cats.
“People’s pets are part of their family,” Sanders says, “so we’re happy to be able to offer these important features.”
Other features include a private, two-level parking garage, complete with bike racks and electric vehicle chargers; garbage and recycling chutes housed in a dedicated room on each floor; and a second-floor community room. That spacious room includes a full kitchen, stainless steel appliances, an island with stools, and a living space with couches, chairs, a fireplace, and a flatscreen TV. Want to relax even more? The community room is connected on one side to a pool table room and on the other to a rooftop patio, which features seating, a gas grill, and a rooftop pergola.
The building’s fifth floor is the “club level,” offering enhanced security – including fob access to the elevator and stairs – as well as upgraded finishes within the apartments.
And some of the building’s most important assets are right outside. Residents will be a short stroll from the excitement of Phoenix Park – home of the farmers market, Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, and more – as well as numerous downtown dining and entertainment options.
They’ll also be just steps from Menomonie Market Food Co-op, where they can shop without worrying about driving or hunting for a parking spot when they return. The co-op and B7 Flats share a strong relationship, with the development of both projects hinging on the other as they split Block 7 between them.
The agreement with the City of Eau Claire to build B7 Flats also included a provision for affordability: Rent for 20% of the units is set to be attainable for people making 80% of the local median income.
The team behind B7 Flats is committed to fostering a community at the new building, and it’s a community that will be created soon, with Sept. 1 fast approaching.
Interested in checking out a unit? Open houses are being held each Saturday this summer from 9am to noon. You can also check out availability and schedule a showing at B7FLATS.COM.
