Downtown lane closures are not working, protesters complain
A rally was held at city hall on Monday by some business owners protesting confusion downtown after parking spaces were annexed to make way for patios to allow restaurants to serve customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About a dozen business owners and supporters rallied in front of city hall over the recent narrowing of parts of George, Hunter and Charlotte streets.
The protesters were upset with how the city went ahead with the plans with what they said was little to no consultation.
They say the narrowing of the streets has limited foot traffic downtown this summer because of reductions to the parking out front of their brick and mortar stores that they depend on to make a living.
“We are not saying as a group of people, tear everything out,” said Mike Seeley, owner of The Antique Shop located at 277
George St. N.
“We get the severity of COVID, we understand it. There are some places that are ludicrous, just nonsensical.”
Bob Zipay, owner of Frameland Frame it for You located at 426 George St. N., said his shop, among others, has probably lost about 50 to 60 per cent of its business since the start of the modifications to the downtown
streets.
“A lot of customers are complaining about the time it takes for them finding a parking spot,” Zipay said. “Some people have to go around the block about three times until they find a spot.”
Seeley said people are getting confused by the way George Street has been blocked off and it is going to cause more issues.
“It has been a two-week experiment now,” he said. “People aren’t getting used to it. What people are doing is avoiding it. They are not coming downtown.”
Seeley is not the only business owner who feels this way by the narrowing of the roads for more walking space for people who don’t seem to be coming.
Zipay said he’s had people come into his shop wanting to do more shopping in the downtown, but due to the confusion, they will not come back until after everything is over.
“We are definitely seeing a downturn in the number of people walking up and down the streets, he said. “Most of these new lanes are being used by bikes, skateboards and ebikes. There isn’t a lot of people walking up and down.
“Normally, we would have a lot of walk-by traffic,” Zipay said. “Now it is none existent.”
Seeley said now that the roads are closed, it is difficult for people and businesses.
“We did zero yesterday,” he said. “We have been here 42 years, how much longer can it happen, not much longer.
“People are not coming downtown, and I think this is contributing to it,” he added. “It is not the only factor, we get the COVID thing, we get there is no tourists coming, who is going to come for a vacation or for a day, what are you going to do. It is really difficult.”
Katharine LeClair, owner of Pipe Dreamz, located at 416 George St. N., said she is upset with how the city is dealing with the narrowing of the streets.
LeClair said she is disturbed by a statement Mayor Diane Therrien made after their last rally that she had spoken to the head of the DBIA about surveys being sent around to business owners.
“Last time we did this the mayor was told by (DBIA executive director) Terry Guiel that we were all talked to about this,” she said.
“They sent out all these emails and a survey and I haven’t talked to a single business owner that has received it. I definitely did not.”