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Downtown Redevelopment Plan Revealed
By Leader-Telegram staff
Officials yesterday announced plans for a redevelopment project backers hope will be the next major step in revitalizing downtown Eau Claire.
UW-Eau Claire and Eau Claire-based developer Commonweal Development unveiled plans at a news conference to build a university housing complex and performing arts center southeast of Phoenix Park.
More than 100 people attended the press conference including city and county officials, legislators, business leaders and developers.
"One of the keys to urban development is to have people live, work and play in the area," said Stuart Schaefer, president of Commonweal Development.
The plans included:
- A performing arts center with three venues: the biggest theater would seat 1,200, a medium sized one would have 450 seats and the smallest one would have a 250-person capacity.
- Apartment-style housing for 370 UW-Eau Claire students.
-27,000 square feet of retail space for restaurants and shops.
- A 200-stall public parking lot.
- Outdoor public gathering space on what is now a city parking lot.
Preliminary cost estimates for the project total $88 million, including an estimated $55 million for the performing arts center and $33 million for the university housing building, which would include retail space.
In addition to partners at Commonweal, others involved in the development include UW-Eau Claire and contractor Market & Johnson.
The development will be on 4.7 acres of waterfront land just south of the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers. Developers plan to ask the city of Eau Claire to contribute about $9 million for infrastructure for the project.
City Council President Kerry Kincaid said the city's excited about the rare opportunity the public-private partnership provides. The city will look for sources to fund infrastructure upgrades, the public gathering space and other amenities sought by the plan.
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