The members of downtown Eau Claire’s Design Committee and the city’s Public Works Department have been working over the last 4 months to refine the design for the reconstruction of S. Barstow Street, north of Lake Street. In other words, they’ve been revamping the plan to reinvent the look and feel of downtown Eau Claire.

We’re not sure how many more rounds of public input meetings will be held before the design is finalized, so this is your chance to be heard.

The meeting will be held Thursday, January 17 at 9am in the North Conference Room of Eau Claire City Hall (203 S. Farwell St.). We’re not sure how many more rounds of public input meetings will be held before the design is finalized, so this is your chance to be heard. (We’re assuming people will have plenty to say when the heart of downtown is ripped up for a large chunk of 2013, and again when the shinny new street finally reopens.)

Organizers are hoping to arrive at decisions on many of new plan’s design details. Discussion is to include sidewalks, terrace area, street lighting, landscaping, streetscape, loading zones, costs, and the overall timetable.

At the meeting, the committee will be presenting a “60% plan,” which will be reviewed by affected property owners, and then needs to be approved by the Eau Claire City Council before it can move on to the bidding process. The current design concepts are the results of  tweaks and changes based on prior public input sessions. The City is tapping the designers of the original plan to review new changes and complete the design.

Also, on Wednesday, January 30, a special meeting will be held specifically for affected property owners at 7pm at RCU Corporate Headquarters.