'NO OTHER CHOICE.' The City of Eau Claire's Landmarks Commission, this past month, voted to grant a Certificates of Appropriateness (COA) to the property owners of the historic David Drummond House in Eau Claire (1310 State St.). Its COA confirms the demolition of this historic site, following extensive damage from a house fire in September of 2025.

The City of Eau Claire’s Landmark Commission held its monthly meeting on April 20. The session included discussion of various agenda items, the welcoming of new members and votes on several Certificates of Appropriateness (COA).

Many were focused on the vote determining the fate of Eau Claire’s historic David Drummond House (1310 State St.); its COA would determine the preservation or demolition of the historic site in Eau Claire’s Third Ward neighborhood.

In fall of 2025, Volume One documented the initial investigation of the State Street house fire and the property owners' decision of a “likely” demolition plan. After the commission members’ vote on April 20, it was decided the David Drummond House would be demolished.

According to Peter Baumgartner, the associate planner for the City of Eau Claire, EDJ Rentals – owners of the property – sought to demolish the structure due to internal and external water damage, rendering the home beyond repair.

During the presentation on April 20, EDJ Rentals staff shared images from a previously published “Site Assessment” video from December 2025. As published by Volume One last year, this video displayed the Drummond House’s open roof structure, damage and mold growth along the foundation and interior walls.

The water damage present throughout the property was caused by the large volume of water needed to extinguish a previous fire in September, which had been sparked by a lightning strike.

“(Landmarks Commission has) given it the go ahead,” Baumgartner said of the historic home’s demolition. “The next step is that the state’s historic preservation society is going to be trying to document the structure.

“That is a 30-day period – mandated by state law – that has to be followed. Then, we can go ahead and approve the demolition permit,” he continued.

During these 30 days, EDJ Rentals will work with the Wisconsin Historical Society to document the condition of the property before it is destroyed. With these efforts – as previously reported by Volume One and WQOW News 18 – there is intent to preserve some portions of the site: stained glass windows, decorative bricks, among other items yet-to-be determined.

“(The Drummond House is) a landmark building; it's extremely difficult to see it go through a situation like this, that is going to end in a demolition of the property,” Joe Garlick, a co-property owner of EDJ Rentals, said. “But, we were really left with no choice.”

“It hasn't been easy for anybody that cares about the historical elements of Eau Claire and a property like this,” Garlick said. EDJ Rentals currently owns six historical properties – in addition to the David Drummond House (pictured) – in the Third Ward neighborhood, he added.

Garlick shared the company has slated July through August of this year, to begin of the demolition process. There currently is no determined use for the site moving forward, though he imagines the property will once again become a site for mixed use – from university students to young professionals in the Valley.

“The most likely scenario is that we would try to put up a fitted building that fits within the historical nature of (the Third Ward) neighborhood... but something similar to what's there now,” Garlick said.

“We have a very good and close tie with the Third Ward,” Garlick continued. “We met with the Third Ward (Neighborhood Association) to share our plans and bring them up to date on what was going on, prior to the Landmark Commission (meeting).”

When and if the property owner submits an application to construct a new building, Eau Claire’s Landmarks Commission members will review the plans to ensure compliance with all local historic district standards, in addition to the Third Ward neighborhood residential overlay standards.

“It’s going to be a couple of years, probably, before we see anything,” Baumgartner said of the State Street property. “(The owners) mentioned it could be as late as 2030 – because they wanted to do it right and contribute to the district.”

The City of Eau Claire’s Landmarks Commission meeting minutes for April 20 will soon be available to view online at www.eauclairewi.gov.

Read Volume One’s initial coverage on the structure fire in the David Drummond House (1310 State St., Eau Claire) from 2025, online at VolumeOne.org.