Small Edmonton businesses feel economic pressure as construction obstructs access – Edmonton | 24CA News
Construction alongside Gateway Boulevard and Whyte Avenue has been occurring for months and has many business house owners within the space seeing a drastic lower in business.
Construction gear and ripped-up roads and sidewalks, all the way in which to the doorways of companies south of Whyte Avenue, are making it tough for pedestrians to not solely stroll alongside the street, however entry companies.
Churchill’s British Imports has been promoting English treats to Edmontonians for 26 years and simply opened a brand new location on Gateway Boulevard final summer season. The retailer’s proprietor, Tony Badger, says this is without doubt one of the retailer’s busiest occasions, particularly throughout Fringe Festival, which is going down close by, however the development is inflicting an issue this 12 months.
“The last week, access has pretty well been eliminated,” he mentioned. “Vehicle traffic cannot access us off Gateway on 91st (Street) — that’s been for several weeks. The alley to get to the parking behind has been blocked and also pedestrian traffic is down to zero because it is completely blocked at the corner of Gateway and Whyte Avenue.”
The work is a part of the Gateway Boulevard Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project, which began final 12 months. Crews started work on the stretch in entrance of the shop and eight different companies in June.
Badger says it’s resulted in a 70-per cent drop in business over the past two months.
“The city came to us and said, in writing, they would be maintaining local access at all times. They haven’t done that at all,” he mentioned.
The metropolis additionally hasn’t put up an indication itemizing the companies which can be open in the course of the challenge prefer it mentioned it will, Badger mentioned.
“Just from a common sense standpoint, I don’t know why for two months they’ve had a complete blockage on this block when they’ve really only started working here in the past couple of weeks,” he added.
While there’s a small path in entrance of the shop, Badger says getting there’s usually robust and development automobiles regularly block entry.
He mentioned it’s irritating, however what’s extra upsetting is the “total lack of respect in trying to deal with the city.”
Two of the seven companies alongside the stretch have already closed down.
This is a frustration that’s shared by Clair-i-tea, the business subsequent door.
“The whole time they’ve got signs up saying ‘sidewalk closed,’ so even if they build a little walkway, they go ‘sidewalk closed’ so people just avoid it,” mentioned the store’s proprietor, Kris Dutchak.
The metropolis, noting it may be difficult to function a business throughout development, advised Global News: “Our records show short-term loss of front door access to businesses on Gateway Boulevard for walkway removal and construction, but that access was maintained at all times otherwise.”
Badger mentioned what town is saying just isn’t the complete actuality of the state of affairs for the companies.
“We’ve been advised it’s having little to no influence but when they arrive and have a look for an hour they’ll see the influence it’s actually having.
— with information from Mason DePatie, Global News
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
