6D Leader-T News from Downtown Eau Claire...Nov 03, 2013 · Page 2 News from Downtown Eau Claire...
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With some new momentum behind it, the group that’s leading the way for the Confluence Project will be work- ing to satisfy the conditions set forth in the Eau Claire City Council reso- lution that pledges $5 million to the community arts center portion of the project. “This is an important step by a key partner in the Confluence Project. This pledge represents a commit- ment by the City of Eau Claire’s elect- ed leadership to develop a community arts center that will serve the needs of the community, region and univer- sity. The university is grateful for the council’s action,” said UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt. UW-Eau Claire, Haymarket Concepts, and the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, will continue discus- sion with Eau Claire County lead- ers, those with the UW-System, state legislators, and the Department of Administration, according to Mike Rindo, UWEC Assistant Chancellor for Facilities and University Relations. The group is also seeking $5 million from Eau Claire County and $25 mil- lion in state funding. The rest of the arts center’s construction costs will be from donations and tax credits. Rindo said there will be ongoing efforts for fundraising to meet both the con- struction costs and the $2.5 million endowment for operational purposes laid out in the council resolution. Meanwhile, Rindo said, the univer- sity must also submit its 2015-2017 capital budget priorities to the UW- System. As one of the items included in it, the Confluence Project will be evaluated. I firmly believe (the Confluence Project) provides the best solution to meeting community and university arts facilities needs because all part- ners will realize much more benefit through this unique public-private- philanthropic undertaking than any of us could on our own. I look for- ward to continuing the close collabo- ration with all of our partners to make this visionary project a reality,” said Schmidt. City Council President Kerry Kincaid said the City Council will carefully monitor the list of condi- tions to make sure they are met, but said the City already has experience with cooperative arrangements like the City/County Health Department, shared law enforcement space at the County Government Center, region- al EMS, and shared athletic venues with UWEC at Hobbs Ice Center and Carson Park. “I continue to be proud that Eau Claire has the opportunity to explore this shared project. We are capable and ready to build another coopera- tive partnership for the arts, especial- ly one that revitalizes our city center,” Kincaid said. At the same time, efforts to get a binding referendum on the April bal- lot are moving forward. Referendum effort organizer Mike Bollinger said the Confluence Referendum Committee is working on the question to pose to voters. The citizens group needs 3,619 signatures before January 15. However, City Attorney Steve Nick said the referendum won’t necessarily overrule the Council’s financial com- mitment to the project. Along with the arts center, the Confluence Project also includes a $26 million privately-financed mixed- use building that would have student housing, commercial space for shops and restaurants, and underground parking. Eau Claire native Justin Vernon spoke in support of the Confluence Project at a City Council public hearing on October 21. He said, “I think Eau Claire is very special. It’s time to act; it’s time to take a risk. There’s a lot to be learned from taking a risk.” 725268_11-03-13 Confluence Project continues to flow forward News from Downtown Eau Claire LEADER-TELEGRAM 6D Sunday November 3, 2013 Downtown businesses pair up in support and to offer unique services Some downtown businesses are joining ranks and teaming up to support their local counterparts, and to offer some unique things to customers. This past summer, while South Barstow Street was shut down be- cause of construction, one North Barstow area business owner came up with a creative idea in support of those businesses owners who were on the closed street. Frogiyo and Smiling Moose Deli owner Colleen Weber said she wanted to help, and offered a free frozen yogurt coupon to anyone that brought in a receipt from a business on South Barstow Street during the construction months. Smiling Moose and Frogiyo are also pairing up with another down- town business owner. Downtown business owners Jerry and Meghan Bauer also have ownership in a bak- ery. According to Weber, Smiling Moose is offering the bakery’s muf- fins and monster cookies, Frogiyo will have some items, and they’re creating unique ice cream sandwich- es for fundraising. The Bauers said they’ve always been strong downtown support- ers. “..it led us to thinking it would be cool to support one another, and to support ‘going local.’ It’s fun to work with, and help support people you know. I think that’s a great thing around the downtown culture,” Jerry Bauer said. Saylon 7 and Blue Eye Studio have also joined up. Blue Eye has moved from its location to across the street, in to Saylon 7 on North Barstow Street. Blue Eye will provide makeup services along with the normal salon services. Sabrina Speigel-Kohrs, owner of Saylon 7, said Blue Eye Studio’s move to the salon felt natural. The two businesses had collaborated together for a few years and worked togeth- er on projects like wedding parties for customers, she said. It just made sense to add the makeup element to the rest of the salon services, she said. “I like the makeup idea,” she said. “It adds to the uniqueness in here.” It also benefits customers. Speigel- Kohrs used a wedding party as an example. Where the party once had to get hair and makeup done at two different places, Saylon 7 is now a one-stop shop. “(Blue Eye Studio) has really helped add that ‘something else’ to Saylon 7,” Speigel-Kohrs said. “It re- ally completes it.” A new downtown business, Fun Dye Factory, offers packages for customers that bring them to other downtown businesses as well. Their “Date Night” package, for example, includes two movie tickets for the Downtown Cinema and a gift card for drinks at Caffé Tempo. Owner Bobbi Potter said she’s planning on expanding these types of packag- es. “I really think if we support each other, that’s what’s most important.” Smiling Moose Deli showed neighbors support by offering customers discounts if they’d shopped at other downtown merchants. This ad sponsored by DECI Ideas wanted for a downtown public plaza Would you like your kids to have a fountain to splash around in at a pub- lic plaza? How about an outdoor perfor- mance stage? Or would you like a spot to access the river? You can give your input at one of two sessions designed to gen- erate ideas for a space downtown that’s now used as a parking lot, but could be a public plaza. The 1.5-acre city-owned “Haymarket” parking lot located where the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers meet, at Eau Claire Street and Graham Avenue, is proposed as a future public plaza. The planning for this space requires the ideas and in- spiration of community members. During two identical workshops, par- ticipants will be led through discussions and a variety of individual and group ex- ercises to gain a community consensus. Participants will identify what makes Haymarket Plaza unique; discuss how the Plaza fits into the larger fabric of downtown Eau Claire; and guide the fu- ture uses, design, and programming of the Plaza. If interested in participating in a Placemaking Haymarket Plaza work- shop, please register for one of the dates, which are November 6, from 4-7:30 p.m. or November 9, from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Both workshops will be held at The Plus (Pizza Plus), 208 South Barstow, Eau Claire. Register at wcwrpc.org. Eau Claire residents are invited to help determine the future uses, activities, and vision for this public space at Eau Claire Street and Graham Avenue, that could eventually be a public plaza. At the new Fun Dye Factory, customers can choose party packages that include items from other local merchants. The votes have been counted and this stat- ue called “A Mother’s Undivided Love,” will remain in Eau Claire. It’s this year’s People’s Choice Award winner. The statue will be pur- chased by Sculpture Tour Eau Claire and its sponsors, and do- nated to the City of Eau Claire Parks. Winners of the popular vote pre- viously are the frog now found in Owen Park, called “Blind Spot,” and the great dane in Phoenix Park called “High Five.” Mom gets popular vote By Salina Heller, Brittni Straseske, Olivia McCarthy, Lydia Harrer
Transcript of 6D Leader-T News from Downtown Eau Claire...Nov 03, 2013 · Page 2 News from Downtown Eau Claire...
With some new momentum behind it, the group that’s leading the way for the Confluence Project will be work-ing to satisfy the conditions set forth in the Eau Claire City Council reso-lution that pledges $5 million to the community arts center portion of the project.
“This is an important step by a key partner in the Confluence Project. This pledge represents a commit-ment by the City of Eau Claire’s elect-ed leadership to develop a community arts center that will serve the needs
of the community, region and univer-sity. The university is grateful for the council’s action,” said UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt.
UW-Eau Claire, Haymarket Concepts, and the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, will continue discus-sion with Eau Claire County lead-ers, those with the UW-System, state legislators, and the Department of Administration, according to Mike Rindo, UWEC Assistant Chancellor for Facilities and University Relations. The group is also seeking $5 million
from Eau Claire County and $25 mil-lion in state funding. The rest of the arts center’s construction costs will be from donations and tax credits. Rindo said there will be ongoing efforts for fundraising to meet both the con-struction costs and the $2.5 million endowment for operational purposes laid out in the council resolution.
Meanwhile, Rindo said, the univer-sity must also submit its 2015-2017 capital budget priorities to the UW-System. As one of the items included in it, the Confluence Project will be evaluated.
I firmly believe (the Confluence Project) provides the best solution to meeting community and university arts facilities needs because all part-ners will realize much more benefit through this unique public-private-philanthropic undertaking than any of us could on our own. I look for-ward to continuing the close collabo-ration with all of our partners to make this visionary project a reality,” said Schmidt.
City Council President Kerry Kincaid said the City Council will carefully monitor the list of condi-tions to make sure they are met, but said the City already has experience with cooperative arrangements like
the City/County Health Department, shared law enforcement space at the County Government Center, region-al EMS, and shared athletic venues with UWEC at Hobbs Ice Center and Carson Park.
“I continue to be proud that Eau Claire has the opportunity to explore this shared project. We are capable and ready to build another coopera-tive partnership for the arts, especial-ly one that revitalizes our city center,” Kincaid said.
At the same time, efforts to get a binding referendum on the April bal-lot are moving forward. Referendum effort organizer Mike Bollinger said the Confluence Referendum Committee is working on the question to pose to voters. The citizens group needs 3,619 signatures before January 15. However, City Attorney Steve Nick said the referendum won’t necessarily overrule the Council’s financial com-mitment to the project.
Along with the arts center, the Confluence Project also includes a $26 million privately-financed mixed-use building that would have student housing, commercial space for shops and restaurants, and underground parking.
Eau Claire native Justin Vernon spoke in support of the Confluence Project at a City Council public hearing on October 21. He said, “I think Eau Claire is very special. It’s time to act; it’s time to take a risk. There’s a lot to be learned from taking a risk.”
725268_11-03-13
Confluence Project continues to flow forward
News from Downtown Eau ClaireLeader-TeLegram
6DSunday
November 3, 2013
Downtown businesses pair up in support and to offer unique services
Some downtown businesses are joining ranks and teaming up to support their local counterparts, and to offer some unique things to customers.
This past summer, while South Barstow Street was shut down be-cause of construction, one North Barstow area business owner came up with a creative idea in support of those businesses owners who were on the closed street. Frogiyo and Smiling Moose Deli owner Colleen Weber said she wanted to help, and offered a free frozen yogurt coupon to anyone that brought in a receipt from a business on South Barstow Street during the construction months.
Smiling Moose and Frogiyo are also pairing up with another down-town business owner. Downtown business owners Jerry and Meghan Bauer also have ownership in a bak-ery. According to Weber, Smiling Moose is offering the bakery’s muf-fins and monster cookies, Frogiyo will have some items, and they’re creating unique ice cream sandwich-es for fundraising.
The Bauers said they’ve always been strong downtown support-ers. “..it led us to thinking it would be cool to support one another, and to support ‘going local.’ It’s fun to work with, and help support people you know. I think that’s a great thing around the downtown culture,” Jerry Bauer said.
Saylon 7 and Blue Eye Studio have also joined up. Blue Eye has moved from its location to across the street, in to Saylon 7 on North Barstow Street. Blue Eye will provide makeup services along with the normal salon services.
Sabrina Speigel-Kohrs, owner of Saylon 7, said Blue Eye Studio’s move to the salon felt natural. The two businesses had collaborated together for a few years and worked togeth-er on projects like wedding parties for customers, she said. It just made sense to add the makeup element to the rest of the salon services, she said.
“I like the makeup idea,” she said. “It adds to the uniqueness in here.”
It also benefits customers. Speigel-Kohrs used a wedding party as an example. Where the party once had to get hair and makeup done at two different places, Saylon 7 is now a one-stop shop.
“(Blue Eye Studio) has really helped add that ‘something else’ to Saylon 7,” Speigel-Kohrs said. “It re-ally completes it.”
A new downtown business, Fun Dye Factory, offers packages for customers that bring them to other downtown businesses as well. Their “Date Night” package, for example, includes two movie tickets for the Downtown Cinema and a gift card for drinks at Caffé Tempo. Owner Bobbi Potter said she’s planning on expanding these types of packag-es. “I really think if we support each other, that’s what’s most important.”
Smiling Moose Deli showed neighbors support by offering customers discounts if they’d shopped at other downtown merchants.
This ad sponsored by DECI
Ideas wanted for a downtown public plaza
Would you like your kids to have a fountain to splash around in at a pub-lic plaza? How about an outdoor perfor-mance stage? Or would you like a spot to access the river? You can give your input at one of two sessions designed to gen-erate ideas for a space downtown that’s now used as a parking lot, but could be a public plaza.
The 1.5-acre city-owned “Haymarket” parking lot located where the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers meet, at Eau Claire Street and Graham Avenue, is proposed as a future public plaza. The planning for this space requires the ideas and in-spiration of community members.
During two identical workshops, par-ticipants will be led through discussions
and a variety of individual and group ex-ercises to gain a community consensus. Participants will identify what makes Haymarket Plaza unique; discuss how the Plaza fits into the larger fabric of downtown Eau Claire; and guide the fu-ture uses, design, and programming of the Plaza.
If interested in participating in a Placemaking Haymarket Plaza work-shop, please register for one of the dates, which are November 6, from 4-7:30 p.m. or November 9, from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Both workshops will be held at The Plus (Pizza Plus), 208 South Barstow, Eau Claire.
Register at wcwrpc.org.
Eau Claire residents are invited to help determine the future uses, activities, and vision for this public space at Eau Claire Street and Graham Avenue, that could eventually be a public plaza.
At the new Fun Dye Factory, customers can choose party packages that include items from other local merchants.
The votes have been counted and this stat-ue called “A Mother’s Undivided Love,” will remain in Eau Claire. It’s this year’s People’s Choice Award winner. The statue will be pur-chased by Sculpture Tour Eau Claire and its sponsors, and do-nated to the City of Eau Claire Parks. Winners of the popular vote pre-viously are the frog now found in Owen Park, called “Blind Spot,” and the great dane in Phoenix Park called “High Five.”
Mom gets popular vote
By Salina Heller, Brittni Straseske, Olivia McCarthy, Lydia Harrer
Page2 News from Downtown Eau Claire
Coming up
A popular downtown coffee shop is moving, but just a little bit down the street. The Goat Coffee House is moving from 408 Water Street to 336 Water Street. Owner Ryan Bembnister said there’s a lot of ex-citement, as he and his wife have been renting their current location for The Goat for about nine and half years. Now they will own the new building. “You’re so limited when you rent. It was a no-brainer.”
Laura Bembnister said they were lucky to come across their new building which is the former Ralph’s Shoes and Caye Insurance Agency. She said the building’s
owner is a regular customer at The Goat, and offered to sell to them first, right about the time their lease was ending. “Everything hap-pened really fast!” Ryan Bembnister said.
The Bembnisters are remodeling the new space by removing a mid-dle wall and renovating some en-tryways. There will be fresh paint and a custom-made counter as well. They expect to open at 408 Water Street around the second week of November. “It’s the coolest thing in the world, next to getting married and having kids!” Ryan Bembnister said.
HappeningsThe Goat moves down the street
Pull up a seat at the wine barrel table and chairs at a new bistro on Water Street. The Splash Wine Bistro isn’t open just yet, but will be in a matter of days.
Liane and Andrew Dixon have en-listed the help of family members to help remodel the former Chedd’s space. Liane Dixon said they wanted to open “something that reflects us.” She said they wanted a warm atmosphere and have re-painted with neutral col-ors, added a fireplace, and had a cus-tom bar built. The orange ceiling of Chedd’s is one thing that will remain.
She said she’s also been busy select-ing menu items. There will be fresh
salads with local produce, local meats and cheese, homemade soup and bread, fresh fruit, and dessert. Playing on the name Splash, the Dixons said many of the plates and dinner spe-cials will feature seafood and shellfish, bringing in a bit of their roots from Florida. “The plates are designed to in-dulge your sense of taste, not to leave you with an over-filled stomach.”
Liane Dixon said they hope to open the Bistro by the beginning of November and will host a grand open-ing. “The enjoyment of food and good company is the center of the experience.”
Bistro to make a splash on Water Street
This ad sponsored by DECI By Salina Heller, Brittni Straseske, Olivia McCarthy, Lydia Harrer
■ Installation of “Jack’s Story Time” L.E. Phillips Memorial Library - Friday, November 8. Story time will begin at 10:15 a.m. and the unveiling and welcoming remarks will begin at 10:45 a.m. Refreshments and an opportunity to take photos with the sculpture will follow the event.
■ Shop ‘til You Drop Thursday, November 14 - Saturday, November 16. Start your holiday shopping early with special sales at your favorite shops on Water Street
■ 6th Annual Upscale Holiday Market and Boutique Saturday, November 16 at the Porter Place
■ Water Street Holiday Thursday, November 21 - Saturday, November 23. Get a punch card and win prizes!
■ Holiday Season Opener Friday, November 22 - Saturday, November 23. Hunt for gifts downtown with sales and open houses!
■ Holidaze Arts Festival Friday, November 22- Saturday, November 23. Shop for gifts created by local and regional artists at the Ray Wachs Convention Center in Downtown Eau Claire. Admission for adults is $3.
■ Small Business Saturday Saturday, November 30. Support small, downtown businesses and shop local the Saturday after Thanksgiving!
■ Volume One Jingle Jams Friday, December 6. Billy Krause will be performing at 7 p.m. at the Volume One Gallery located inside of The Local Store on N. Dewey St.
■ Christmastime in the City Saturday, December 7. Come downtown for holiday fun from 12 - 5 p.m. on the corner of S. Barstow Street and E. Grand Ave.
■ Gifted: Holiday Marketplace Saturday, December 7. Over 25 vendors will be at The Oxford on 1814 Oxford Avenue from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free and there will be hourly raffles throughout the day.
South BarStow BuSineSSimprovement DiStrict
While Eau Claire is technically past its peak when it comes to fall colors, downtown Eau Claire’s beautiful views of the river can be seen year-round. The Dewey Street bridge offers this sight of the Eau Claire River on a late afternoon in autumn.
Fall is in the air
