[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6608418,"mediaKeyId","2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064","parentId",2939489,"title","Housing commission opts to continue monthly meetings; staff to clarify virtual participation policy","audioSeconds",193,"startMs",3745000,"endMs",3938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064&start=3745&end=3938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064/thumbnail_3745000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6608418/Eau-Claire-City/Eau-Claire-County/Wisconsin/Housing-commission-opts-to-continue-monthly-meetings-staff-to-clarify-virtual-participation-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608418-a356e1063b3a1c3a5c19a74565189a41/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442763&Signature=BXnqYYvcEPp3iBcdfd200ltOX9S3mlRTMaj-wvjBgXSl0fD3rerA9q5mcvYWHXaGhhy8BgSDFpHvUsJ~mZt9ZF-CEndKn-JHYQVBZTnEsM~BGy0L~AGwc~EGeN5pEngf~HE5e26jAaPRs5kL9zhfTVak~Rs2DFxFqQ4cF2JrBRHp-4ssCiPxhiXy1nlEoGvyIe-nwnT2da96oF~yisITohPBb2aIwAtm84JxqyT3TAuFHOeulXUM98dpUGlPa-H73BhRX92~M-gt~VGnpsgiKQnNT8YIBRCJ8qLpYT1HCCZtqnt1RaZhl521pA~c0TqIKI4nssCXgR-4Uj83TvVqSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Euclaire ","date","2025-04-09T17:11:00Z","article","The Housing Opportunities Commission decided at its April 9 meeting to continue meeting monthly and asked staff to provide a clear summary of the city’s virtual participation policy for commissioners who expect to be away in summer months.

Multiple commissioners said they preferred monthly meetings to keep momentum on work-plan items and to work through a long list of future agenda items. Several commissioners also raised the practical issue that summer schedules make in-person attendance difficult for some members and requested staff guidance on how and when commissioners may participate remotely.

Staff said it will resend the council-approved virtual policy and help commissioners with the process for notifying staff and facilitating remote participation when necessary. Commissioners discussed keeping future-agenda placeholders but agreed to revisit list management and prioritization when new commissioners are seated and after the annual organizational meeting.

No formal bylaw change was made at the meeting; staff noted that changing meeting frequency could require charter or ordinance-level steps and that the commission’s current status is monthly meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Euclaire - Housing Opportunities Commission - Apr 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners decided to continue monthly meetings and asked staff to resend the city’s virtual participation policy and clarify procedures for remote attendance in summer months.","taxTitle","Eau Claire City, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin","taxId",4140,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6608422,"Staff reports: Mount Washington redevelopment resumes; vacancy rate edges higher as new units come online",617,4251000,4868000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064&start=4251&end=4868","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064/thumbnail_4251000.jpg","/articles/6608422/Eau-Claire-City/Eau-Claire-County/Wisconsin/Staff-reports-Mount-Washington-redevelopment-resumes-vacancy-rate-edges-higher-as-new-units-come-online","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608422-82d22dd68b4eaf05c784a56a0a8eb5be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442763&Signature=CnFOva0lAISK4YCAIxzeQnUFXrPcxue~Zmvl9nWxxr34foEU8Km~fBagThzuKOY45fDcbnb~URGShkGHQqTBGu~4w-mwoStfIQgTRCJfSp~qU3OIEemr-O579KDoY3pKNTWaHyjbzETSdeFbPjtdS~ErFU2yVAgpeRxXkWL7c6TYVyuZwaXCO2XbcgqKKxKR9U7BU4m95zCHsQLsoHyzKcFwhPc9yf7sTD8gTUyL7y1SwuKSI-3d8PAQi-fk3UxtFybrmaa~V0Q6PiyUVLiQSt~uGIfXbb1YNzmE2Jf4NUIjA2x7IiBCK8tDmnCUVUqbOMOCPJESurcRkmi-OtRBTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff briefed the Housing Opportunities Commission on current housing projects and market conditions on April 9, saying a major redevelopment is resuming after the developer secured a new equity partner and that the multifamily vacancy rate has risen as recent projects have opened.

Peter White, a city staff member, said the Mount Washington redevelopment—work to rehabilitate an existing core structure and add two additional buildings—had paused after a capital partner’s portfolio collapsed late last year. The developer has found a replacement equity partner and staff said permits are in order; the project will include more than 200 units and will be classified as workforce housing.

White said recent openings have increased the city’s apartment vacancy metrics. Citing an industry report that tracks local listings, staff said the multifamily vacancy rate rose to 3.7% for 2024 from 1.2% in 2023. White added the citywide vacancy estimate across all housing types is about 4.7% based on local analyst data.

Staff listed several projects under way or preparing to break ground: the second phase of PNR Properties in the Cannery District; the Paragon project off Highway 53; a Mark Held project on Sessions Avenue (studios and one‑bedrooms) that staff said should be able to be built under forthcoming zoning pathways; and activity in Orchard Hills. White said the Paragon and other projects are contributing to a healthier vacancy level and, in some cases, property managers are offering promotions and specials.

Staff also reported on financing and programmatic constraints. The initial round of CDBG and HOME recommendations will go to council in early May; applications requested more than $1 million while the allocation totals roughly $600,000. White said a developer specializing in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program is seeking sites; the staff noted that scoring rules tied to Qualified Census Tracts limit where projects can viably compete for tax credits. White mentioned a proposed state bill to raise the program funding cap that could improve local prospects.

Commissioners asked about the permanence of subsidized units that lose covenants; staff said conversions or covenant expirations can remove affordable units from the stock unless replaced by new subsidized development. White described nonprofit partners and experienced LIHTC developers who continue to pursue applications but said the long time commitments and restrictions on resale limit private-sector participation.

Staff said they will continue tracking projects, vacancy trends and the CDBG/HOME award process and will present specific vacancy and affordability data at future meetings.","City staff updated commissioners on multiple housing projects and market indicators: Mount Washington redevelopment is restarting with a new equity partner, several market‑rate and workforce projects are moving forward, multifamily vacancy rose to 3.7% in 2024, and CDBG/HOME funding demand exceeded allocations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6608426,"Housing Opportunities Commission to host regional roundtable May 9 to convene builders, officials and service providers",1596,2143000,3739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064&start=2143&end=3739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064/thumbnail_2143000.jpg","/articles/6608426/Eau-Claire-City/Eau-Claire-County/Wisconsin/Housing-Opportunities-Commission-to-host-regional-roundtable-May-9-to-convene-builders-officials-and-service-providers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608426-4914296b2845a5acee2428771fb2dc8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442763&Signature=KZxUx96FzM9hHnHAEr6FMIVcRZ5VuRDTkM13ie2pLQSYuQ0mxE0W~PIZj-5TOlpp~Ah8Nt34VvU3wrujryovk5gG8pVTAsMLAF50XVNPuDamiTa-WO02m9imyc1cGni6DfNd-iOA7WatwIEO4EDswXsRcpQuJc2cASbc1KT6zRaPTlLieJkazbs7Nc8tUZqMeMtMl-cw-5UP50HezQxp6i4fcasuACJWVV8Zx05Gv5xWFvo7mK2l4rDve56lATLPMBtdEwgX8gop66djZ6eirvPBgJUjFL66MUoud1QzAiKlb3DOdhEcYlFZvA2qZqcKy68BCUwY9rWSBxJXDau7nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Housing Opportunities Commission scheduled a regional roundtable for May 9, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Library’s River View room to bring together developers, local governments, service providers and state and federal partners to share approaches and program updates.

City staff presented a proposed format that asks attendees to highlight local “victories” and persistent challenges, with the commission using the conversation to identify topics for follow-up or deeper workshops. Staff said the format is modeled on stakeholder roundtables used in economic development and is intended to surface replicable practices across the Chippewa Valley.

Staff said they will circulate a suggested menu of topics ahead of the meeting and request RSVPs. Commissioners discussed attendee caps and table format: several commissioners suggested a cap of 50–60 attendees to keep conversations substantive and to enable intentional seating at roundtables so that participants from different sectors (for example builders, service providers and residents) would be mixed at each table.

Commissioners and staff also discussed the meeting’s potential focus areas. Suggestions included aging‑in‑place programs, home‑maintenance and weatherization assistance, homelessness and upstream interventions, and models that expand home‑ownership opportunities. Staff said they will invite organizations across the Chippewa Valley and seek representatives rather than broad lists of individual invitees to keep the group manageable.

Staff raised logistics: the library room must be reserved well in advance and the city will issue invitations early next week. Commissioners discussed offering a boxed lunch if a sponsor can be identified; staff said they would pursue sponsorship and will circulate finalized invitations and an RSVP list. Several commissioners suggested using brief, structured prompts and intentional seating to ensure a mix of perspectives at each table.

Next steps: staff will circulate a draft invitation and a menu of possible roundtable topics and collect additional topic suggestions from commissioners; the commission will use the May 9 event to identify one or more focus topics for subsequent, deeper roundtables.","The commission set a May 9 regional roundtable at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Library to gather stakeholders across the Chippewa Valley to share program updates, successes and challenges; staff recommended targeted topics and an RSVP cap.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6608430,"Housing Opportunities Commission authorizes letter to ZPAC urging affordability be prioritized in Century Code update",1293,459000,1752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064&start=459&end=1752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939489-def30d48c0d12b164fe33be481e3f064/thumbnail_459000.jpg","/articles/6608430/Eau-Claire-City/Eau-Claire-County/Wisconsin/Housing-Opportunities-Commission-authorizes-letter-to-ZPAC-urging-affordability-be-prioritized-in-Century-Code-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608430-4fe4cb367a4981c4770cc44afb62ddb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442763&Signature=kKlH7WPVfwQZK1vF9j7f9pHiW0jIPz3GFkc49rfZRFFSR1DuAoO~oczQMjJuwC~xAPV7ITA3NSJidz50sfxcz6NyzTFEm2RIgps0wNq6bB3TbT3B5oC~9JUMD5bb8JF0YpCnXXaQFRrMf2bwcF~6~l84Bn6TtwiVCcOewliYcpUSqIwoZlcminXWd0VQrn4rDyW1ZkHk4o0ancxWPy~FnDvyj-Gecxc8MXyKZAQKrgmeRkwXIlrR7YFoZKZj-42B87bo4h-NXfQUzYEqPLNYqvKAiqchjHP2zzkRK~NIDlJiC5AAU01ChJ1YKBTKAuqHcF2TUSKUWlnArkjOK3zDsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Housing Opportunities Commission on April 9 authorized two commissioners to finalize and send a letter to the Zoning and Planning Advisory Committee (ZPAC) urging that the Century Code update be judged primarily by its effect on housing supply and affordability.

The commission acted as ZPAC prepares additional draft language ahead of a May 5 ZPAC meeting and a planned July council discussion. The motion to empower commissioners to finalize and sign the letter passed by voice vote; a formal roll-call tally was not recorded in the meeting transcript.

Commissioner Scott Rogers, who drafted the initial letter text, told the commission that the Housing Opportunities Commission is charged by the City Council to “recommend and review ordinances and other policies that best ensure availability of affordable housing” and that, in the commission’s view, “the goal to produce more housing supply, diversity of choices and affordability is . . . the most critical purpose and should be a paramount consideration against which all other sections of the code should be measured.”

Rogers and other commissioners said some proposed design standards and aesthetic rules in the draft code—anti‑monotony rules, materials requirements, tree-preservation language and park impact fees—could, if written too rigidly, raise construction costs and reduce affordability. Commissioners cited examples builders have submitted to ZPAC showing concrete impacts: staff said one Creekside project estimate showed tree-preservation language raising costs on 50 lots by about $1,100,000 as written in early drafts.

Commissioner Thrun—who also serves as executive director of the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association—has been collecting “real world” build budgets that commission members said they expect to be added to the letter or shared with ZPAC. Staff advised the commission that the group could collect edits and, if there was general agreement, authorize one or two commissioners to finalize the letter and send it on commission letterhead with the chair’s signature.

At the meeting the commission voted to authorize Commissioner Scott Rogers and Commissioner Jennifer Chaput to finalize a draft based on board feedback, to incorporate specific examples provided by Commissioner Thrun and others, and to send the letter to ZPAC on behalf of the Housing Opportunities Commission. The vote was by voice; minutes record the motion passing.

Next steps: staff said it will accept edits from the commission, add them to the draft, and circulate a final version to the authorized signers. Commissioners and staff emphasized getting the letter to ZPAC ahead of ZPAC’s May 5 meeting.

","The commission authorized two members to finalize and send a letter to the joint Plan Commission/ZPAC asking that affordability be treated as a paramount consideration as the Century Code update nears final recommendations; the motion passed by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Housing commission opts to continue monthly meetings; staff to clarify virtual participation policy

Staff reports: Mount Washington redevelopment resumes; vacancy rate edges higher as new units come online

Housing Opportunities Commission to host regional roundtable May 9 to convene builders, officials and service providers

Housing Opportunities Commission authorizes letter to ZPAC urging affordability be prioritized in Century Code update