Some development projects seem to take forever (we’re looking at you, Eau Claire Transit Center), so we are often pleasantly surprised when they reach — or at least approach — completion. Topping the list this year is The Yard in Altoona, a colorful collection of shipping containers repurposed as the home of eateries, shops, and a pub in an underused downtown spot. Speaking of revitalization, Cannery Park playground in Eau Claire provides a place for R&R amid an ongoing effort to reimagine a disused industrial area. Another bright spot: The Chippewa Valley Health Co-op Hospital opened late last year in temporary quarters inside the former St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls as it continues plans to build a new home in Lake Hallie by 2028. —Tom Giffey