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HyettPalma
703-683-5126
info@hyettpalma.com

Featured Project:
Downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin

HyettPalma completed an Action Agenda for Downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in association with the National League of Cities and HyettPalma America Downtown® program.

Following is an overview of Downtown Eau Claire’s condition at the time of the project and a brief overview of the revitalization approach being taken to further enhance Downtown Eau Claire.

Today, Eau Claire boasts a large and varied Downtown with many, many assets which can be leveraged to further enhance Downtown and its appeal to the buying public. These include, but are not limited to, the following.

  • The Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers — and their confluence — are among Downtown’s first and foremost assets. The rivers are the single common element that connects all portions of Downtown. And, the more Downtown is connected to the rivers, the more unique and compelling Downtown will become. Therefore, the rivers must be used as a critical theme upon which both Downtown economic development and the City’s overall quality-of-life can be leveraged.
  • Downtown and Eau Claire have a rich history, from Old Abe to Hank Aaron and beyond, which must be reflected through Downtown’s enhancement.
  • Downtown Eau Claire is already a center for the arts. Here can be found the State Theater, the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center and Council, the Chippewa Valley Theater Guild, the Chippewa Valley Symphony, the Eau Claire Children’s Theater, and the L.E. Phillips Memorial Library with its popular programs for all ages.
  • Downtown is a government center — with City, County, State, and Federal offices located there. And, as a result, Downtown has a thriving array of professional offices, attracting those businesses that tend to cluster around — and do business with — government offices and agencies.
  • The Holiday Inn and Convention Center are located in Downtown, bringing both business and leisure travelers to the heart of the City.
  • The farmers market is located in Downtown and the emerging Phoenix Park project is underway — both of which will act as Downtown anchors.
  • Downtown is home to a major and highly respected institution that draws from a very large area — the Luther Midelfort Mayo Health System.
  • Downtown has experienced a high degree of private sector investment over the years, which includes healthy specialty retail, food, service, and office establishments, the Banbury Place adaptive use project, River Plaza, and River Edge.
  • Downtown is fortunate to have the commitment of City Council — whose members have declared Downtown’s enhancement to be a high priority. Without this commitment, the enhancement of any Downtown would be extremely difficult.
  • Downtown’s enhancement is receiving attention from active Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) as well as private, non-profit organizations.
  • Downtown is surrounded by neighborhoods and these neighborhoods are represented by active civic associations.

This is indeed an impressive list of assets. However, Downtown Eau Claire is not without needs and issues. And, the community is not without concerns for Downtown’s future. The major needs, issues, and concerns facing Downtown Eau Claire include the following.

  • Community members have voiced concern over the fact that many past plans have been conceived for Downtown and that these have resulted in what some call “superficial improvements.” While this might be true, it should be realized that — in this day and age — this situation is typically found in a city the size of Eau Claire.
  • The Highway 53/Hastings corridor is a burgeoning commercial area that is experiencing rapid business growth and development. This, some feel, is putting Downtown further and further behind the curve with every passing day — and, therefore, makes it all the more critical to speed up the Downtown enhancement effort.
  • The community’s citizens feel it is very important that Downtown be further enhanced — in a specific way. They want the enhancement effort to result in an increase in the number of Downtown retail businesses, restaurants, and destinations; an improvement in Downtown’s appearance; incorporation of the rivers into Downtown’s operations and image; and greater communication and coordination among all entities involved in Downtown’s enhancement.
  • The community greatly wants to see “more action” — implementation of quality, immediate, and long-lasting actions that result in the enhancement of Downtown’s economy and the City’s quality-of-life.

The Action Agenda gives Eau Claire the tools necessary to:

  • Improve Downtown’s appearance;
  • Improve communication and coordination among those involved;
  • Retain and recruit businesses to Downtown; and
  • Strengthen Downtown’s economy.

However, it will be difficult to successfully implement the Action Agenda — in a way that yields the desired results — unless the community embraces the following challenges.

  • Local individuals must step forward and make a commitment to implementing the Action Agenda. No person or entity outside of the community can fill this role.
  • Private sector leadership, as well as public sector commitment, are both critical to the success of the Downtown enhancement effort.
  • All those involved must understand that this is a long-term project — which will require a long-term effort and commitment.
  • The private and public sectors must unite — among themselves and with each other — and adhere to the gameplan for the long haul.
  • The time for planning, discussing, rehashing — as well as the time for divisiveness, distrust, and discord — must come to an end. And, an era of unity and action must begin.

© HyettPalma 2008