A group of local business owners have raised concerns with Airdrie City council regarding construction planned along Main Street throughout the summer, claiming the project has already had a substantial negative impact on their operations.
“This is a survival issue. Our businesses have been going down by 60 per cent, and it’s so hard for us to stay in the market,” said Peter Manocha, founder and owner of Peter’s Liquor Hub, during a presentation to council during public question period at a meeting June 3.
Representatives from more than a dozen businesses located adjacent to construction areas signed a letter by Manocha highlighting a number of issues, including inconvenience to customers, project timing and revenue loss incurred by the businesses. The letter of appeal was submitted to the City of Airdrie, Mayor Peter Brown and the office of the MLA.
“We barely survive through the winters to make some money in the summertime, but this project has blocked it,” Manocha said. “People are seeing a lot of problems by using the alternate routes, so they are avoiding our businesses and using alternatives.”
As a result, he said, businesses are unable to earn sufficient revenue to cover fixed and operating expenses – “it’s hurting us badly,” he said, “very badly.” The group’s letter requests the City subsidize some of the costs business owners are currently struggling to handle on their own, until the construction project’s anticipated end in October.
“We are not against the construction going on Main Street,” Manocha said. “We want the City to step in and support the small businesses.”
Coun. Al Jones said he felt the City had sufficiently notified impacted businesses well ahead of the planned construction, after the phasing of the project was approved by council at the beginning of April. Manocha confirmed he had been informed of the project approximately four weeks ago.
Similar short-term construction projects occur in municipalities across the country, Jones added, stating he “isn’t aware” of any governing body using taxpayers’ money to cover the operating expenses of adjacent businesses. He also reiterated the necessity of the construction project due to the deterioration of the City’s utility infrastructure in the area – if left unaddressed, the resulting issue could result in businesses experiencing more significant disruptions.
“If it was an emergency situation, we would not have the luxury of putting detour plans in place and having those four-way stops to avoid accidents a block over,” Coun. Tina Petrow said. “We would be immediately shutting down the road, and it would have a much greater impact – and as these lines are at the end of their life-cycle, it would be likely to happen if these were not fixed at this point in time.”
She added the construction has been planned strategically to minimize potential impacts on local businesses – the current phase of construction should be completed in June, she said, at which time a different section of Main Street will be closed off to allow the project to continue. Operations can then resume as usual for the businesses impacted right now.
“The only suggestion I can put forward here is to market yourselves – let people know,” she said. “Go on social media. Let people know that you are there and you are open for business, and to continue to support our local businesses because that’s how our downtown will thrive.”
Brown suggested the City install additional magnetic signs throughout the area to remind residents that businesses are still open for the duration of the construction project. According to Lorne Stevens, director of Community Infrastructure, ongoing discussion with local businesses has resulted in the relocation of several barriers as well as the creation of banners to be hung along construction fencing, providing more visual cues indicating while the street is closed, businesses remain open.
“We’ve tried to be thoughtful…but certainly, we remain open to any tweaks or adjustments we can do to move forward and try to minimize to the maximum extent possible the disruption to business,” he said.
According to Manocha, additional signage has since been provided, but he said he has yet to experience any significant improvement to his business operations. He added he’d like to see council offer further support.
“Be at my store, at my place for one day, and you will feel the pain,” he said. “How are we going to pay our bills?”
