EAU C LAI R E N E I G H BO R H OO DS WHERE DID WE COME FROM AND WHERE ARE WE GOING? THE OLD NEIGHBORHOODS Shortly after World War II, Brian Blakeley’s grandfather constructed a grid of simple dirt roads across some of his farmland on the southeast side of Eau Claire – an area that decades later would hold London Square Mall. He plotted lots and sold the land to young families looking for an inexpensive place to build a home. At the time, this property was outside the city limits, free of most regulations and zoning laws. But all the same, it was a new neighborhood. Blakeley – who has published two books in a series called A History of Eau Claire, Wisconsin – says that, like most cities, Eau Claire’s original 19th century neighborhoods formed over decades, driven by magnetizing factors such as ethnicity, religion, class, and political philosophy. They were anchored by places such as lumber mills, factories, churches, and even cemeteries. Over 150 years, those original neighborhoods expanded and new ones were plotted and built. Through time, the social and economic forces driving neighborhood development have evolved. The original sub-communities from the 1800s have all but lost their original names and identities. The younger historic neighborhoods near the heart of the city – the ones we can now easily identify, such as the Third Ward, Randall Park, Eastside Hill, and Putnam Heights neighborhoods – didn’t form as organically as one might assume. According to Pat Ivory, senior planner for Eau Claire’s Community Development Department, these were largely subdivisions built by contractors, just like the new neighborhood projects of today. (In fact, many of the older houses we see now were literally bought from a Sears catalog.) Designed for the most part along a classic grid system and populated by citizens riding waves of economic upturn, the identities of these neighborhoods – their vibes – formed over time. It took 60 or 70 years (the decades of growth following World War II) before they were fully realized. In terms of personality, it’s hard to compare a new neighborhood to ones that are over 150 years old. But they all start from scratch.
BY THE NUMBERS
THE NEW NEIGHBORHOODS The “Eau Claire Metropolitan Area” (Eau Claire and Chippewa counties combined) is one of the fastest growing metro areas in Wisconsin. Eau Claire was the sixth-fastest growing of Wisconsin’s 72 counties between 2010 and 2019. Much of Ivory’s work is based on Eau Claire’s solid population growth over the past couple of decades. Analyzing these trends, Ivory says we can expect Eau Claire to grow by 400– 500 people a year for the foreseeable future. Those people need places to live, and many of them want a house nestled within a good neighborhood. New neighborhood developments near the outskirts of a city are often associated with (and sometimes blamed for) an exodus of people away from crumbling downtowns and older working class neighborhoods. With good reason – that’s certainly what’s happened across America over the past 50 or
EAU CLAIRE GROWS BY
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60 years. But is it still the case? According to Mike Schatz, previously the City of Eau Claire’s Economic Development Director and Downtown Eau Claire Inc.’s executive director, downtown residential vacancy is basically zero. There are waiting lists for apartments. Existing homes in Eau Claire’s older, established neighborhoods are in very high demand. It’s a competitive market, says Schatz, with houses fetching high prices after only days (or even hours) on the market. People aren’t draining from the city. The city limits are overflowing. Ivory says Eau Claire does see some infill – small developments built on open land within the city limits – but of course, the majority of new development is along the borders. A conservative count shows roughly a dozen new subdivion projects in progress in the City of Eau Claire alone.
93 PERCENT INCREASE IN NEW EAU CL AIRE HOMES FROM 2010-2017
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EAU CL AIRE WAS THE
6TH FASTEST GROWING OF WISCONSIN’S 72 COUNTIES BE T WEEN 2010-2019
BUIL DING F ORWARD Chippewa Valley was not immune to the devastating housing market crash seen a decade ago, but things have steadily bounced back. According to Ivory, the construction of new singlefamily homes in Eau Claire almost doubled from 2010 to 2017, growing by 93% (almost all of them in new residential developments). The market has especially taken off since 2015.
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NEW NEIGHBORHOOD MAP A . T R I L O G Y • p. 36 C&M Home Builders B . C A M D E N P L A C E • p. 40 C&M Home Builders C . P R A I R I E V I E W R I D G E • p. 39 C&E Wurzer Builders
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The new neighborhoods featured on the following pages are some of those currently in development throughout our area. They offer varying sizes and styles of lots and homes, interesting features, and proximity to established amenities in our community. If you’ve considered building a home, explore these pages to learn more about some of the best options out there today.
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Neighborhoods don’t simply sprout from dirt roads. They take time – and people – to grow.
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But the ultimate difference between a few rows of new houses and a real community of neighbors rests in the people who live there. Do they support each other? Do they take pride in the place they live? Are they willing to put in the work to cultivate the necessary relationships to make it happen?
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Besides serving as an indication of economic growth, new neighborhood developments are good for the city as a whole. They spur improvements in infrastructure as connecting roads are rebuilt and repaired, and nearby parks are enhanced.
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These new developments abandon the old grid layout in favor of more interesting curvilinear patterns. When considering new projects, Ivory and his department stresses the connectivity of streets allowing for maximum accessibility and walkability. New developments must jive with the city, with considerations for our emergency services and existing systems.
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“When the bottom fell out of the housing industry,” says Christina Thrun, executive officer for the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, “we saw a decline and stagnation in new developments. Less spec homes were built, and many of the area builders left the industry. However, during the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of developments and a willingness by area builders to take on the risk of a new development.”
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TR I LOGY • blending country-style relaxation with the amenities of the city •
C&M HOME BUILDERS OFF HIGHWAY 93, SOUTH OF EAU CLAIRE (715) 861-6410 ADMIN@CANDMHOMEBUILDERS.COM CANDMREALESTATE.COM
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hose looking for higher-end, single-family housing in an up-andcoming part of town may want to look toward Trilogy, the beautifully crafted new neighborhood developed by the trusted and experienced C&M Home Builders. Since this neighborhood is just outside the city limits of Eau Claire, you can expect to have the conveniences of the city with some significant benefits of country living. These advantages may include lower property taxes and larger lots. But perhaps one of the best perks is the community wastewater treatment system, the first of its kind in Eau Claire County. This system completely eliminates the need for a wastewater drain field on individual lots, providing homeowners with the peace of mind that they won’t have to deal with individual failures, unsightly pipes and tanks, inspections, repairs, and pump-outs. Professionals also regularly manage the system, so you can expect highly treated wastewater quality with ongoing success. And another cool thing is that a total of 44 homes in the Trilogy Community will be built to accommodate EV (electric vehicle) chargers in every single home. The singlefamily homes will each feature a level two electric vehicle charger provided by Eau Claire Energy Cooperative and installed by C&M, at no charge to the homeowners. All of the lots include one acre or more of land, and homes custom-built based on the customers’ needs. You can expect somewhat higher-end pricing in the $350,000$500,000 range, depending on lot size, home style, and the features included. You’ll find many different types of lots and housing options available to suit your needs, including walk-out lots, flat lots,
and look-out lots. If you’d like your lot to be close to water or trees, you can have that, too, as a pond and wooded areas are near the Trilogy neighborhood as well. Being just outside town means you’ll be just a short drive from many additional amenities, including shopping and entertainment options. And as this side of town begins to develop more and more, you’ll see commercial buildings pop up next to the neighborhood, including a brand-new coffee shop. Although the neighborhood is open builder, choosing C&M would certainly be a wise decision, as they’re known for their ability to create custom homes built specifically for their customers’ needs. A nice place to start would be to browse some of the past projects found on their website, or perhaps check out one of the spec houses they’re creating specifically for this neighborhood. You also won’t have to wait much longer for this year’s virtual version of the Parade of Homes, which begins June 24 at paradeofhomescv.com and will feature a special house in the Trilogy neighborhood.
PARTNER
YOU CAN E XPEC T T O HAVE THE CONVENIENCES OF THE CIT Y WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT S OF COUNTRY LIVING.
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PRAI R I E VI EW R I DG E • affordable living in a quiet corner of Altoona not far from shopping & recreation •
C&E WURZER BUILDERS ALTOONA (715) 839-8806 CRAIG@CEWURZERBUILDERS.COM CEWURZERBUILDERS.COM
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estled into a quiet part of Altoona, the new Prairie View Ridge neighborhood will provide mixed-use amenities and proximity to shopping and recreation at an affordable price for all kinds of buyers with opportunities for renters as well. Prairie View Ridge is conveniently located close to Eau Claire not far from the southside mall area via a low-traffic route on Mayer and Prill roads. It’s also a short drive from Altoona’s bustling River Prairie development.
LOT 2 1.08 Acres
LOT 3 1.13 Acres
LOT 4 1.35 Acres
LOT 6 0.75 Acres
LOT 7 0.75 Acres
LOT 8 0.87 Acres
Hong Street
C&E Wurzer Builders consistently ranks among the region’s top home builders in Volume One’s Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll. They understand that a home is an investment and the foundation for some of life’s most important moments, from celebrating birthdays in a kitchen to easy weekends spent in the family room. Every agent and architect involved in the realization of your dream home will listen to your needs and work tirelessly to design a home that perfectly complements your lifestyle.
LOT 1 0.81 Acres LOT 5 0.78 Acres
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LOT 19 0.74 Acres
LOT 18 0.90 Acres
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LOT 20 0.75 Acres
LOT 17 0.90 Acres
LOT 11 0.39 Acres
LOT 21 0.74 Acres
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Twin homes in the neighborhood will start at $220,000 and are expected to attract a variety of residents, including older adults, families, and millennials, Wurzer said. “It’s great for everyone’s needs – multifamily living for rentals along with twin homes for individual purchase,” he said. “It’s an
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ideal way to own new for a fraction of the cost of a traditional home.”
Cole Drive
“There is a bike path and a walking path around the subdivision pond, while also being located close to a convenience store, restaurant, workout facility, and a microbrewery,” said Craig Wurzer, owner of C&E Wurzer Builders, the neighborhood’s developer. Prairie View Ridge will be made up of twin homes (side-by-side units with a shared common wall) for sale and rental, along with eight- and 12-unit lots to be completed by outside investors or custombuilt to suit by the developer.
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“I T ’S GRE AT F OR E V ERYONE ’S NEED S . . . I T ’S A N IDE A L WAY T O OW N NE W F OR A F R AC T ION OF T HE C O S T OF A T R A DI T ION A L HOME .” –
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H I LLC R EST I I • recreational opportunities abound in this neighborhood along Altoona’s Otter Creek •
WHETHER YOU’RE SEEKING A W OODE D L O T, A WA L K-OU T L O T, OR PERHAPS SOMETHING CLOSER TO WAT ER , C &M CA N FIND THE RIGHT SPOT FOR YOU. hood, with many more on the way. Considering there are a total of 120 lots, you can have your pick of the style and scenery you’d like surrounding your new home. Whether you’re seeking a wooded lot, a walk-out lot, or perhaps something closer to water, C&M can find the right spot for you.
C&M HOME BUILDERS
From conceptual design to the final walk-through, members of the C&M team work closely with each of their customers, ensuring that the experience is as stress-free and exciting as buying a home ought to be.
JUS T OFF HIGHWAY 12 ALTOONA (715) 861-6410 ADMIN@CANDMHOMEBUILDERS.COM CANDMREALESTATE.COM
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oung professionals, families, and empty-nesters in search of a place to call their own can look no further: Hillcrest II in Altoona is the development they’re looking for. C&M Home Builders has affordable options for everyone. Located on the site of the former Hillcrest Golf Course near Otter Creek on Altoona’s south side, this neighborhood is ideal for those looking for high-
end yet affordable, energy-efficient housing with plenty of nearby amenities. You’ll find trails, basketball and pickleball courts, ponds, parks, and other recreational opportunities within walking distance. Also nearby are all the exciting developments happening in the River Prairie area. And for families with children, the neighborhood is conveniently located very close to Altoona’s public schools as well.
PARTNER
Houses can start at $245,000, and that price includes everything from ready-to-go landscaping on the outside to the latest appliances and even mirrors and toilet-paper holders on the inside. “It’s one of the most exciting developments,” said Copy Filipczak, co-owner of C&M Builders, the Eau Claire-based developer that created Hillcrest II. Currently, 10 to 15 houses are under construction in the neighbor-
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Filipczak says C&M has over 15 ready-made home plans to choose from, with more on the way they intend to unveil soon. The houses can range in size from 1,300 to 2,800 square feet, and plans allow for plenty of personalization to help customers create homes that are unique and built specific to their needs. As one of the of the most prominent locally owned home builders in the Chippewa Valley, C&M has the experience to create the home you’ve always dreamed about, in a neighborhood that has all the right pieces to give you and your family the convenience and lifestyle perfect for you.
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