According to Salary.com, prices are up 1.3% in Eau Claire compared to a year ago, and housing is among the largest drivers of that increase. That’s why readers would really appreciate more affordable housing. Now that we’ve gotten Costco and Chick-fil-A, the only remaining frontrunner in every Best Of poll is to get a Trader Joe’s. We’ve manifested our goals before, people. Let’s make it happen! Finally, it would be so cool to have a passenger rail run through Eau Claire. While the Amtrak Borealis winds through La Crosse instead of Eau Claire (for why?!), readers really want a choo choo through the Chippewa Valley. —Rebecca Mennecke