STATEMENT FROM PHOENIX PARKSIDE:

Michael Lander and Geoff Moeding, partners in the redevelopment of the 12-acre, $20 million Phoenix Park neighborhood covering four city blocks in the North Barstow district of downtown Eau Claire, have selected Al Taft and Don Myers of AFT Real Estate Inc. to market the retail and office portions of the project.

AFT Real Estate will pursue a mix of food, retail and neighborhood service business that will serve the emerging residential population and existing business and hospital employees. “We are confident we’ll fill the project with an interesting group of small businesses that are attracted to the visibility of Madison street frontage, convenient off street parking, the downtown riverfront location, and the synergy of this unique pedestrian oriented neighborhood,” said Al Taft, founding principal of AFT Real Estate – www.aftrealestate.com. AFT Real Estate will also provide commercial real estate experience and a link to the other brokers and tenant reps seeking sites in the community.

“We are pleased to have Al and Don join our efforts to bring a first class mixed-use development to downtown. Their history in the community and experience with the kind of retail and commercial tenants that will populate our buildings makes them a great choice to represent the project,” said Michael Lander, principal in Lander Group, the award-winning Minneapolis-based developer leading the project. Lander Group will continue to market the riverfront apartments to potential residents through the project website – www.phoenixparkneighborhood.com.

Ground has been broken on the first building housing the Midelfort Pharmacy on the ground floor, complete with drive-up window, and professional offices on the second floor. This first building will be completed late summer 2008. AFT Real Estate will handle leasing of the office space.

The second building fronting Riverfront Terrace is a 34-unit apartment building with 4,700 sq ft of ground floor commercial space and underground parking. A coffee shop with a drive-through is slated for one of the commercial spaces. AFT Real Estate will be handling the retail space. The riverfront building will be completed spring 2009. Future phases of the project include approximately 15,000 sq ft of additional retail/commercial space plus additional parking.

The Phoenix Park Neighborhood will feature 11 separate new buildings covering four city blocks in downtown Eau Claire, including a newly constructed riverfront park, amphitheater, Farmer’s Market, office building, residential, and a new group of multi-use buildings. These buildings will provide living, working, and shopping opportunities to the residents of Eau Claire. www.phoenixparkneighborhood.com

The Lander Group, Inc. is a Minneapolis-based development firm specializing in urban in-fill development. Lander Group was recently named the 2006 National Association of Homebuilders Small-Volume Developer of the Year. The firm is known for its support of new urbanist, smart growth, and green building principles, and its focus on high-quality design. For more information on Lander Group, please visit www.landergroup.com.

AFT Real Estate Inc. Is an Eau Claire – based real estate firm, locally owned and operated since 1992. AFT Real Estate specializes in selling and leasing of commercial and industrial properties as well as site selection for tenants and buyers from national companies to one unit operators. For more information please visit www.aftrealestate.com