living
living LOOKING FORWARD ... AND UP these new and i n-prog ress Eau Clai re apartment projects cou ld be you r next home compiled by
tom giffey
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he number of planned apartment projects in the City of Eau Claire has been rising – both literally and figuratively. According to the recent “State of the City” address delivered by city officials, 399 new units of multifamily workforce housing were approved in Eau Claire in 2020. That’s nearly double the number of multifamily units OK’d during the previous year. (And the 399 total doesn’t even include the 276 units approved as part of Timber Bluff Acres on the city’s far southside, which will consist of twinhomes and four-, five-, seven-, and eightplexes plus a 50-unit development for seniors.) While it’s a somewhat nebulous term, “workforce housing” typically is used to describe apartments that are within reach for typical working people. While the rent costs aren’t subsidized, they aren’t unaffordable for working-class people, either. A number of Eau Claire’s new apartment projects are reaching toward the sky – at least by Eau Claire’s typical low-rise standards. One is a pair of new five-story apartment towers in downtown, while two other projects involve creating apartments inside historic six-story buildings downtown. Here is a rundown of some of the most noteworthy apartment projects that are either on the drawing board, underway, or have been recently completed in Eau Claire. THE GUILD 816 Porter Ave., Pablo Group Offering unparalleled views of the Chippewa River and completed last year, The Guild is an upscale apartment complex inside the former Syverson Lutheran Home in downtown Eau Claire. The four-story building includes 48 units with 20 unique floor plans, ranging in size from 507 square feet to 2,829 square feet. According to the developer, Pablo Group, “Amenities include a guest suite, yoga studio, community rooms, a
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fitness room with commercial-grade equipment, spacious lobby, and outdoor gathering spaces. ... The Guild provides immediate access to the very best Eau Claire has to offer, while also offering a taste of the quiet life, secluded on the edge of the Third Ward district, against the bank of the Chippewa River, and presenting the very best of home life in the convenience of luxury apartment living.” Learn more at theguildec.com. BARSTOW COMMONS 131 S. Barstow St., Pablo Group Construction work began recently inside the six-story building that houses US Bank in downtown Eau Claire. Pablo Group says it is working to preserve Art Deco elements of the historic 1930 building, whose upper floors are being converted into 28 residential units. The apartments will offer views of the nearby Eau Claire River, as well as the rest of the downtown, while the bank and other offices will remain on the building’s lower two floors. The project is expected to be finished by late summer.
THE GRAND WILSON SQUARE S. Farwell St., JCap Real Estate The Wilson Square project will encompass most of a block on South Farwell Street, between Seaver and Emery streets, next to Wilson Park. Plans call for two four-story buildings containing 115 apartments. The apartments are now intended to be rented at market rate, although the project was originally planned for senior citizens. While the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have delayed the project somewhat, demolition on the site began recently. Learn more at jcaprealestate.com. THE GRAND 204 E. Grand Ave., JCap Real Estate This historic six-story structure was built in 1930 as the Scandinavian American Fraternity Building and most recently housed a Wells Fargo bank. Now the top four floors are being converted into 25 apartments, which are expected to be ready in the near future. J Cap plans to lease the first two floors to commercial tenants, and the company plans to add a unique feature to the building’s
roof: the Grand Rooftop Bar, which was recently approved by the Eau Claire City Council. Learn more at jcaprealestate.com. OTHER PROJECTS If you think you’ll be in the market for a rental in the next year or two, keep your ears to the ground for updates about a number of other ongoing projects. Pablo Group is in the process of renovating the historic Salsbury Row House (302310 W. Grand Ave.) into the Salsbury Flats, which will be offered as five condominium units. The threestory, 71-unit Current apartment building (1750 N. Oxford Ave.) opened recently, and construction is expected soon on the second phase of the project just to the south. In 2019, developer SC Swiderski of Mosinee received city zoning approval to build 570 apartment units in the northwest corner of Eau Claire, west of Kane Road, although that project hasn’t begun yet. Likewise, approvals have been granted, but work hasn’t started, on HK Development’s plan to build 288 apartments on Lorch Avenue, near Action City and Metropolis Resort. | MARCH 18, 2021
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living CHOOSING THE RIGHT LANDLORD t he u ps and downs of deal i ng wit h private land lords and management companies words by
lauren fisher
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estled somewhere among hundreds of factors renters consider when searching for a place to live is a very important consideration. Nothing can make or break a rental experience quite like the person or people you deal with from deposit to departure. Renting from a private landlord or a property management company each have benefits and drawbacks that should be taken into account when choosing a home. PRIVATE LANDLORD •
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Personally invested in the quality and care of the property. Private landlords often have a more direct stake in the maintenance of their property. A well-kept rental unit has a better market value than a dilapidated one. Direct access. When dealing with a property owner, you don’t have to wait for communications to relay through several points of contact before hearing back. This allows you to develop a personal relationship with the landlord. More opportunity for negotiation. Your direct relationship with your landlord means that
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you can develop a more specialized contract. Sometimes (not always) a private landlord can be more flexible about interior modifications such as hanging shelves, painting rooms, etc., among other arrangements. Delayed assistance. Private landlords must work around their schedule and yours to handle maintenance concerns, lock-outs, paperwork, etc. This can lead to delayed response times. Less-developed systems. Policies might be less well-defined when renting with a private landlord. This can result in confusion if either party fails to communicate clearly.
living more top tips for Renters Ask around. If a friend lives in a place they like or deals with a landlord they like, there may be units available even if they aren’t advertised. What is the neighborhood like? Look at nearby amenities and bike/walkability. Call the local health department. They can tell you if there are any uncorrected complaints against the property. (Eau Claire: 715-839-4718; Chippewa Falls: 715-726‑7900; Menomonie: 715-232-2388.) Get the name of a possible landlord and run it through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (wcca.wicourts.gov) to see if he/she has a clean record. MANAGEMENT COMPANY •
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Systematic. Property management companies are more likely to have standardized practices and procedures for every aspect of renting. They also have access to and the budget for industry technology, which might mean you can fill out applications, pay rent, and more, online. Point of contact. Having an office with dedicated hours for handling rental business can prove a valuable resource. Rental companies usually have regular hours during which tenants can call or stop by with questions and requests, which means less phone tag. Maintenance resources. Rental companies usually have
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maintenance workers on staff and relationships with contractors who can handle specific problems. This increases the likelihood that repairs are carried out quickly. Impersonal. Because some companies handle dozens or hundreds of units, you might not always get to work with the same person, and it’s possible to get lost in the shuffle, especially during busy times such as the beginning and end of a university school year. Strict. Property management companies are systemized for efficiency and there are rules in place to avoid complications and to protect the company and you. Customizing your contract is far less likely with a rental company.
The Eau Claire Police Department has developed a voluntary Certified Landlord Program. See if your landlord is certified, as it shows a dedication to what they do. Visit www.ci.eau-claire.wi.us/landlords. Never sign a lease without seeing the apartment – especially in complexes where “all the apartments are the same” and they keep a clean one on hand to show people like you. Read and understand all lease paperwork. Make sure all your questions and concerns are answered before you sign. It is a contract, and means you have legal responsibilities as well as the landlord. A one-page lease could be a red flag. The more paperwork, the better. Tenant and landlord responsibilities should be clearly defined. Good landlords enjoy answering questions. They want tenants who care about their living space. If you’re deciding between two places, consider the Paper Layout Experiment. Take the rough measurements of the crucial spaces, and note where there’s vents, doorways, windows, etc. Then measure your furniture, bookshelves, and the like. Divide the measurements down so the room can fit on paper. Then do cutouts of the furniture and organize them in the paper room. Whichever layout excites you more is the winner.
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living HELP WITH RENT prog ram offers rental assistance to t hose sufferi ng fi nancial ly from pandemic
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year into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that many of us continue to experience serious economic repercussions – lost jobs, reduced hours, and even medical costs. Statewide, thousands of households have fallen behind on their rent and face eviction. If you of someone you know is in this situation, help is now available through the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA), a federally funded program which will be administered locally by Western Dairyland Equal Opportunity Commission in Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Jackson, and Clark counties. According to Western Dairyland, WERA provides financial assistance for rent, utility costs, past-due rent and utility costs, and wrap-around services. When possible, rental and utility assistance payments will be made directly to the landlord or utility provider on behalf of the tenant. Eligible applicants must: • have income loss or financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic • be unable to pay their rent, behind on rent or have an
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eviction notice be an adult Wisconsin resident with a household income at or below 80% of the county median income.
WERA is the second rental assistance program offered by Western Dairyland, coming several months after the conclusion of the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program (WRAP). Western Dairyland provided nearly $1 million in rental assistance to 550 local families between June and November last year. Households in need of rental assistance in Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Jackson, and Clark counties are encouraged to call Western Dairyland at (715) 985-2391 or (715) 836-7511, or complete an online form at westerndairyland.org/wera. Residents of all other counties will apply for rental assistance through their local community action agency. In Dunn, Chippewa, Pepin, Pierce, and several other west-central Wisconsin counties, the agency to contact is WestCAP. Learn more by calling (715) 265-4271 (press 0 for the receptionist) or by emailing westcap@wcap.org.
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ARE YOU A L ANDLORD? if you are, don’ t forget to reg ister you r properties wit h t he healt h depart ment
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he Eau Claire City Housing Inspection Program requires that all property owners with one or more rental housing units in the City of Eau Claire to register their properties with the Eau Claire City-County Health Department. The purpose of the rental registration is to build stronger communication between the city and property owners, increase efficiency in notifying property owners of inspections, and to facilitate faster resolution of violations. All property owners who own residential rental properties within the city must register each property. This is done by completing a registration form and submitting a fee of $5 per property. Here’s how: • ONLINE. Going online is easy, and it’s the preferred method. Fill out the registration form at www.eauclairecounty.org/ RentalRegistration. The form will ask for the name of the owner of each rental housing unit and the name, address, and telephone number of an
authorized contact person for each residential rental unit. The $5 fee per property can be paid online with a credit card or electronic check. • IN PERSON. Visit the Health Department office at 720 Second Ave., Eau Claire. You will fill out the registration form at the office. Bring a form of payment for $5 fee per property (cash, check, or credit card). • BY MAIL. Print the registration form from the website and mail with a check ($5 fee per property) to: Eau Claire CityCounty Health Department, 720 Second Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54703. All rental property owners need to update their accounts if there has been a change in ownership or contact information. Access your online account to update the property (or properties) at eauclairecounty.org/ RentalRegistration. If you have questions, contact the department at (715) 839-4718.
The Renter toolbox a few tools wi l l make rental l ife much easier Toolbox: Duh. But a nice one with a handle is incredibly useful, because if you don’t know where your tools are, they aren’t helpful.
Set of screwdrivers: A good mixed set includes flat and Phillips head screwdrivers, maybe even a magnetic head.
Reversible drill with a bit set: Infinitely useful for fixing up furniture, tightening bolts, and getting to all those other projects you’ve been putting off.
Needle-nose pliers: If you can find a pair with a wire cutting blade, grab ’em.
Hammer: Look for one that’s heavy with a fiberglass shaft and a rip claw.
Utility knife: Look for replaceable blades and keep some on hand.
16-foot tape measure: Get one that locks and take it with you furniture shopping.
Duct tape: For quick repairs and emergencies.
Safety glasses: Don’t start a project without these.
Is This Pl ace Cool? consu lt t his handy checkl ist before you sig n Turn on all light switches to see if they do, indeed, produce light. Check each power outlet (use a small appliance like a hairdryer). Turn on the sink and bathtub faucets (check for leaks or plugged drains). Flush toilet, check for leaks. Look for smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Check ceiling and walls for cracks and water stains. Check the locking mechanisms on doors and on all the windows. How well sealed are the windows? (Will you pay a ton for heat/air?) Inspect furnace and/or air conditioner. Are they well-maintained? Check hot water: Is it the proper temperature? Check for exit lights. Is the exterior of the building well-lit and well-maintained?
Renters insurance here’s everyt hi ng you need to know • Policies usually start around $100 a year. Not a month. Not a quarter. A YEAR! • It covers your personal property in circumstances like theft, fires, natural disasters, and more. Obviously there are exceptions and exclusions, but, in general, your stuff is covered when the crap hits the fan. • If your apartment has a fire, not only does it cover your “stuff,” but also where you will live for the immediate future. And even if your place doesn’t burn and it’s a neighbor’s place, you might have to be gone, too. In either case, it covers hotel/
motel costs for those circumstances. • If someone visits and they get injured, your policy may cover medical payments and liability in case they want to sue you. (Again, with limitations.) • It is basically a homeowners policy for renters. And homeowners policies often come with longevity discounts (so the longer you’re with a firm, the cheaper it gets). In some cases the years you have renter’s insurance can count toward longevity discounts if you become a homeowner and stay with that firm.
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