Eau Claire also has the problem that the residential developments around it are very self-isolated from it. Basically gated condos everywhere and Eau Claire doesn't attract them. I have a friend who lives in a building with pretty much all the amenities he needs in there, so him and his wife never needed to go there, it's like a block away.
The Forks Market in Winnipeg managed to achieve their own "Granville Island in a winter city" so it's not like the concept can't work. But Eau Claire just seemed to have bad luck combined with doing things wrong.
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