Council Gives Final OK to Confluence Project

Tom Giffey |

“If there was a gold shovel here, I would put it in the ground. ... We worked so damn hard on this project, and I am very, very grateful for every single person who had input into making this a possibility.” – Eau Claire City Council President Kerry Kincaid

Nearly four years after the concept for a shared university-community performing arts center was first unveiled, the Confluence Project got the final go-ahead it needed from the Eau Claire City Council on March 22. In a series of votes, the council approved a general development plan and rezoning for the downtown site, as well as a number of encroachments on public streets for a loading dock, a canopy, and other parts of the planned 130,000-square-foot arts center. While the proceedings were relatively anticlimactic, City Council President Kerry Kincaid paused briefly to celebrate after the final vote. “If there was a gold shovel here, I would put it in the ground. But there’s not, so I’m just going to wave this little thing,” Kincaid said, grinning and waving a small noisemaker in the air to laughter from others at the meeting. “We worked so damn hard on this project, and I am very, very grateful for every single person who had input into making this a possibility. We will pay you all back. This is for the future.” After these approvals, all that separates the arts center from a groundbreaking this summer or fall is a matter of about $5 million. That’s the difference between the project’s estimated $45 million price tag and the roughly $40 million raised from state, city, and county governments as well as private donors. Those pushing for the project hope to fill that gap with grants, philanthropy, and the donation of products and services during the construction.