Some businesses on 102 Avenue feel pinch from LRT construction
Restaurant tries to build up catering, while travel agency hands out small gifts
Some businesses along 102 Avenue say they’re feeling the impact after the road was shut last month to prepare for construction of the Valley Line LRT.
“The beginning of the new year, we were OK, but when they closed the street, we have seen lesser traffic coming in,” Stephanie Paras, a partner at the Maka Eatery in the Don Wheaton YMCA, said Monday. “We’re not necessarily angry, but we have to find our own way to get more customers. It’s not like we can stop the city from building the LRT.”
Paras estimated her business is off about 30 per cent since 102 Avenue was blocked to private vehicles Jan. 8 between 96 and 103 streets.
The eatery has hired a marketing company to promote its catering operation as a way to counter the two-year disruption, she said.
Asim Chin, manger of the Don Wheaton YMCA (10211 102 Ave.), said he has noticed a drop from the usual 150 to 200 visits the centre normally has during the peak 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. weekday period, although he couldn’t provide exact figures.
One problem is rush-hour congestion created on 102 Street because vehicles leaving the Y parking garage and other facilities must all turn south, he said.
Although the city has been willing to change traffic signals to reduce the problem, he’s not sure how the tie-ups will affect his facility.
“The first day it closed … when we had our class in the evening, the class that normally had 10 people, only one person was able to make it in on time. Everyone was late because of the traffic.”
Two blocks east, Paull Travel owner Lesley Paull said they’re handing out small surprise gifts to people who find the office at 10175 100A St. through the construction hoarding and road closure.
While she isn’t suffering yet, she thinks they’ll see a reduction in the 15 per cent of customers who walk off the street once LRT work makes it impossible for pedestrians to cross from City Centre mall.
“Signage from the city would be nice — just about anything would be. I don’t know how bad it will be until it’s actually there.”
Not everyone’s feeling the pinch. Dale Meunier, owner of The Sequel Cafe, 10011 102 Ave., said he hasn’t noticed any impact. “We were never a drive-to destination. You get here the way you always did — you walk … We have lots of good regulars.”
TransEd, the consortium building the Valley Line, says one sidewalk along 102 Avenue and north-south cross roads such as 97 Street, 100 Street, 101 Street and 103 Street will stay open until the project ends in 2020.
Ian O’Donnell, executive director of the Downtown Business Association, said it is working with landlords, companies, the city and TransEd to deal with problems the closure creates and encourage the public to shop in the area.
“When you shut down any road in front of a business, it’s going to create challenges … We just wanted to make sure people know these businesses are open.”