Last week, we learned that Eau Claire Extreme Makeover: Downtown Edition (aka the South Barstow redesign project) will be delayed by an entire year. At a project update meeting last Tuesday, the Public Works Department told locals and downtown business owners that any major road construction won’t begin until 2013. Previously, work was to start in 2012.

Some business owners are pleased by the news – Eau Claire economic development administrator Mike Schatz told the Leader-Telegram the news provoked a “collective sigh of relief” among those worried about when the construction would start and how long it would disrupt their business (rerouting both foot and car traffic, hindering access in general).

We’re not sure why business owners see the delay as a better situation – it’s going to happen one way or another. And it’s going to be difficult – just ask all the shops located along Hastings Way,  some of which simply closed down for much of last summer’s construction. So if it’s going to be tough either way, why not just get it going as soon as you can? Why not get a shiny, new, customer-attractin' downtown sooner rather than later?

But that’s just questioning people’s feelings toward the delay. While it may speak volumes about a certain local attitude towards change, it’s largely a moot point as the city makes the decisions, and the city says the Hastings Way reconstruction sucked up enough resources to prevent proper planning and scheduling for South Barstow.

While understandable, we find it disappointing.

That said, and this is big, both S. Barstow Street and Graham Avenue will be converted to two-way streets in 2012. No more one-ways downtown, folks. The city is also planning on patching up some of the worst stretches of concrete.