Downtown pleads for city help

More than half of Downtown businesses are worried about staying afloat, according to a new survey that illustrates the depths that the coronavirus and protests have had on the heart of Columbus.

According to the survey, 58% of Downtown business respondents that are first-floor tenants said they were worried about staying in business.

Those first-floor businesses, including restaurants, said they sustained $941,000 in damages from protests over the death of George Floyd in May, followed by $2.1 million in lost business.

In addition, Downtown hotels reported $80,000 in damages and $595,500 in lost business, while property managers reported $1.8 million in damages.

An earlier survey in June found that 250 Downtown businesses suffered some sort of damage during the May 28-30 protests, said Marc Conte, executive director of the Capital Crossroads and Discovery special improvement districts, which also conducted the new survey of businesses and property owners.

Downtown restaurants, bars, hotels and retailers have all struggled as office workers have stayed home and business travel has plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic, with some closing and others reducing staff.

The special improvement districts found that first-floor tenants and hotels that responded lost half their business because of the protests and the coronavirus, and that 62% of employers responding asked employees to work remotely.

The districts’ recommendations are: • Fund a $75,000 marketing campaign targeted at Downtown residents and workers to patronize restaurants.

• Expand carryout zones in the rightof-way for pickup and delivery services.

• Create grants for businesses that were damaged during the May 28-30 protests.

• Have police enforce misdemeanor crimes. The districts said police have generally not been enforcing misdemeanor crime since mid-march to reduce jail crowding during the pandemic. That has led to escalating offenses, including drug sales, that are eroding the quality of life Downtown.

• Create a city task force aimed at keeping Downtown businesses open.

The districts also recommended that Columbus City Council pass legislation that defers tax and utility payments, and cap app-based restaurant meal delivery commissions and fees. And they recommend waiving property owners’ taxes in exchange for the owner charging a lower rent, and provide unemployment-like relief for small business owners.

“We fear more businesses will fold,” Conte said.

Mike Stevens, Columbus’ development director, said the city is open to exploring the ideas, including the city task force.

“The importance of Downtown for regional economic development efforts is critical,” Stevens said.

Tom Dailey, who owns and operates Zoup restaurants at 41 S. High St. at the Huntington Center Downtown and the

Arena District, said his Arena District business is down 50% and the South High Street location down more than that.

“I’m very concerned because we’ve got the economic uncertainty,” Dailey said. Every restaurant owner he knows has exhausted their federal Payroll Protection Program money to help businesses retain workers during the pandemic.

“Downtown restaurant owners and small business owners are trying to convince the city to help convince the general population that Downtown is safe,” he said.

Carol Haynes, who owns the Kiddie

Academy at 37 N. High St., said she has the capacity for 252 youths ages six months to 10 years for daycare and after-school care. But today, her enrollment is 19.

She fears that many Downtown workers won’t be back until after the first of the year, and worries her Downtown location may not make it.

“It looks like Sunday morning Downtown every day,” she said.

“When employers begin to send employees back to work I know we’re going to be needed.” mferench@dispatch.com @Markferenchik