For Immediate Release
City Council Approves Two New Redevelopment Districts to Guide Future Investment in Eau Claire
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Following a two-year planning effort, the Eau Claire City Council has approved two new redevelopment districts recommended by the City of Eau Claire Redevelopment Authority (RDA), establishing long-term plans for strategic reinvestment in key areas of the community.
The Riverbend District Redevelopment Plan and Core Reinvestment District Redevelopment Plan were developed as the Redevelopment Authority evaluated future redevelopment priorities and opportunities across Eau Claire. The plans build upon decades of successful redevelopment work in districts such as North Barstow and the Cannery District, where public-private partnerships have transformed underutilized properties into new housing, businesses, public spaces, and community destinations.
What Is a Redevelopment Authority?
Redevelopment Authorities are public bodies created under Wisconsin law to address blighted, obsolete, and underutilized properties that may be difficult to redevelop through private investment alone. Working in partnership with property owners, developers, neighborhood stakeholders, and local governments, Redevelopment Authorities help prepare sites for future investment through planning, land assembly, environmental remediation, infrastructure improvements, and redevelopment partnerships.
A redevelopment district establishes the legal foundation that allows a Redevelopment Authority to carry out these activities within a defined geographic area. While district plans do not authorize specific projects, they identify redevelopment opportunities, establishlong-term priorities, and provide direction for future public and private investment.
“Over the past two years, the Redevelopment Authority has taken a thoughtful look at where Eau Claire’s next redevelopment opportunities exist and how we can best position ourselves to support them,” says Aaron White, Community Development Director for the City of Eau Claire. “As projects continue to advance in districts like North Barstow and Cannery, it became important to establish a plan for addressing both large-scale redevelopment opportunities and smaller neighborhood reinvestment challenges. These plans are the result of that work and will help guide redevelopment efforts for years to come.”
Riverbend District Focuses on a Major Community Gateway
The Riverbend District encompasses approximately 530 acres surrounding the former Sacred Heart Hospital campus, former Shopko Plaza property, portions of the Clairemont Avenue corridor, and adjacent riverfront industrial sites. The district was established to address several large-scale redevelopment opportunities concentrated within a highly visible area of the community.
The plan establishes a long-term vision for transforming underutilized commercial, institutional, and industrial properties into a more connected mixed-use district supporting housing, employment, commercial activity, recreation, and improved public access to the Chippewa River. Future redevelopment efforts may include site preparation, infrastructure improvements, riverfront restoration, mixed-use development opportunities, and enhanced pedestrian and bicycle connectivity throughout the district.
Core Reinvestment District Addresses Neighborhood Revitalization
Unlike the Riverbend District, the Core Reinvestment District was designed as a broader redevelopment tool spanning multiple neighborhoods throughout Eau Claire’s central core. The district includes areas containing aging housing stock, obsolete commercial properties, vacant and underutilized parcels, and portions of federally designated Qualified Census Tracts where redevelopment barriers have historically limited reinvestment.
The plan creates a pathway for addressing scattered redevelopment challenges through housing stabilization, neighborhood revitalization, commercial reinvestment, adaptive reuse, and redevelopment of blighted properties. The plan also emphasizes equitable redevelopment strategies that encourage reinvestment while seeking to preserve existing neighborhoods and minimize the displacement of current residents whenever possible.
Guiding Future Redevelopment Efforts
Both redevelopment plans were developed under Wisconsin Redevelopment Authority statutes and align with existing City planning efforts, including the Comprehensive Plan, Strategic Plan, and Regional Housing Study.
The plans also establish the legal authority necessary for the Redevelopment Authority to pursue future redevelopment activities when appropriate, including property acquisition, site preparation, demolition, environmental remediation, infrastructure improvements, and redevelopment partnerships.
“Successful redevelopment requires coordination and a long-term perspective,” continues White. “While these plans are not tied to any single project, what they do provide is a roadmap for how the City of Eau Claire and Redevelopment Authority can respond proactively when opportunities come up in these areas, whether that means addressing a blighted property or helping remove barriers to private investment. Just as importantly, they reinforce our commitment to revitalization that builds on existing neighborhoods and seeks to ensure current residents can share in the benefits of future investment.”
The complete redevelopment plans and district maps will be available on the Economic Development Division’s website in the coming weeks: eauclairedevelopment.com/redevelopment/districts
For media inquiries or more information, please contact:
Kendall Williams
Economic Development Division
City of Eau Claire
(715) 839-4914
kendall.williams@eauclairewi.gov
About the City of Eau Claire
The City of Eau Claire, located in west-central Wisconsin, is committed to fostering a thriving economic environment that supports businesses of all sizes, promotes job growth, and enhances the quality of life for its residents.