The Eau Claire Revitalization Story March 2, 2018 WCMA Conference
The City of Eau Claire was founded on a site at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers
Early Industry was Lumber/Sawmills Known as Sawdust City
Industrial Heritage After the logs ran out there was a transition to Manufacturing/Heavy Industrial Island of Industry in a Sea of Agriculture
Uniroyal Tire Company Closing 1992 1,300 workers 1,900,000 square feet
Banbury Place former Uniroyal Celebrated 25 th Anniversary in 2017 Local Developer 155 businesses 750 employees 300 storage units 35 apartments
Response to Uniroyal Closing Hutchinson Technology Inc. (TDK) United Health Group Nestle built second facility Gateway Industrial Park Corp.
Downtown Eau Claire Highways and sprawl Department stores moved out to the malls Buildings got older Low rent district Highest crime rate
Keys to Eau Claire s Revitalization Public Sector took the lead Established Redevelopment Authority and Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. Infrastructure investment in bike trails, riverfront parks, and public plazas Used Tax Incremental Financing and state/federal grants where avail. Investment commitment for downtown revitalization Private Sector Investment Royal Credit Union and JAMF Software building large office buildings Housing development, mixed-use projects Created tax increment Young Entrepreneurs
Keys to Eau Claire s Revitalization Emphasis on Housing More people living downtown creates more demand for commercial Greater pay back on utility infrastructure, 24/7 usage Creative Class/Creative Economy Included as part of our economic development strategy Investment in Arts and Culture Emergence of VolumeOne The voice for arts and music culture, millennials, and hipsters University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Expanding beyond campus boundaries into downtown and other parts of Eau Claire
Keys to Eau Claire s Revitalization Collaboration Clear Vision Many players coming together to support the Confluence Project Public/Private Partnerships Branding as Music Capital of the North Promoting all the major music festivals People who discovered Eau Claire through music festivals moving to town Music spin offs
N. Barstow Redevelopment Before Flood Plain Contamination Substandard soils Blighted Properties
N. Barstow Redevelopment After Features mixed-use buildings, narrow streets, shared parking, and high-density development
Phoenix Park Photo Credit: Volume One
Farmer s Market in Phoenix Park
Tubing from Phoenix Park Easy access to river Free air hose at JAMF
Royal Credit Union Corporate Headquarters, consolidated multiple branches Used historic design Generated tax increment to pay for Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park Neighborhood Out of town developer took first risk Mixed-use development Loft apartments and retail Emphasis on housing Underground parking
The Livery Give every older building a chance to be redeveloped Some are not financially viable or highest and best use
JAMF Software Local resident s software company Creates software for Apple products How could he help support the Confluence Project?
The Oxbow Hotel & The Lakely Former seedy rundown hotel Hipster hangout WEDC Grant
The Lismore Hotel $20 million+ remodel of a bankrupt Ramada Zach Halmstad (JAMF Software) and Pablo Properties Eau Claire s first rooftop bar
The Informalist & EC/DC
Downtown Business Growth Young entrepreneurs opening stores downtown Red s Mercantile Ramone s Ice Cream Parlor Tangled Up In Hue Revival Records
Downtown Business Growth Blue Boxer Arts Latitude 44 SHIFT Cyclery Blue Ox Running Photo Credit: Elise Sitzman, VisitEauClaire.com
Biscuit Lofts Parks and Recreation Redevelopment WHEDA Project
Lazy Monk Brewing
N. Barstow Parking Ramp Success led to parking problem in Downtown area Modern design Contract parking during the work week with nearby businesses
Volume One and The Local Store V1 is the arts and music culture voice of the region Store sells local products Shared work space available
Sculpture Tour
Bridge Lighting
Artisan Forge
Forage - Eau Claire
Banbury Art Crawl
Music Capital of the North Sounds like summer weekly concerts Eau Claire Jazz Festival Country Fest Country Jam Rock Fest Blue Ox (Bluegrass) Prex Claires /Oxbeaux Eaux Claires (Indie) Photo Credit: Eaux Claires
Haymarket Landing Mixed-Use Building One of two Confluence buildings 30,000 square feet of first floor commercial 5-story dormitory Taxable
Pablo Center at the Confluence Public/Private Partnership WEDA Award 2016 City, County, and State financing Collaboration with University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Under construction, open in Fall 2018
Haymarket Plaza Public Plaza between two Confluence buildings
Haymarket Plaza
Haymarket Plaza Pedestrian Bridge
Statistics Investment around the Confluence: $100,000,000 New Building Valuation in TIDs: 2002 TID #8: $12,418,400 2016 TID #8: $71,077,200 No. of new housing units: 2002: 1,130 2017: 1,641 No. of people living downtown: 2002: 2,852 2017: 3,458
Statistics Downtown Apartment Vacancy Rate: 0% Industrial Vacancy Rate Citywide: 1.85% 2017 Building Valuation: $295,604,991 Unemployment rate 2.4 percent
Pipeline Projects Sonnentag Events & Recreation Complex
Pipeline Projects YMCA Tennis Center
Cannery District Creation Eau Claire s newest redevelopment district Over 30 acres along the Chippewa River
Cannery District Development Map
The Brewing Projekt
Recent Articles on Eau Claire TIME Magazine, A Festival That Brings it Home Outside Magazine, 16 Best Places to Live in the US Smart Asset, The Least Stressed Cities in America Milwaukee Journal Sentinel How Eau Claire Became a Magnet for Artsy Millennials in Wisconsin Thrillist This Small Town in Wisconsin is the Mini-Portland of Your Dreams Best Small Towns to Visit in All 50 States Philly.com - A Hipster Scene Booms in Eau Claire, WI Minneapolis Star Tribune - Six Best Places to Go in 2017