Business owners in the downtown Arts District have sent letters to City Councilwoman Olivia Diaz and City Manager Mike Janssen requesting interim solutions to offset the impact of the Charleston Boulevard construction project. The letter, written by Conrad West Gallery owner Gary Conrad, states that foot traffic has decreased by nearly 90 percent and that merchants are "desperate for relief."
The letter proposes four temporary measures: expanding construction to 24 hours a day, suspending parking enforcement and expanding free parking, pausing sales tax payments and city fees, and designating a city liaison for the affected businesses. Claire Conrad, co-owner of Conrad West Gallery, said the gallery saw 1,500 visitors last October compared to 150 this year. "They should be working seven days a week and 24 hours a day to get that road opened because they are hurting all of the merchants down here," she said.
Johnny Jimenez, owner of One of Us Comics on Commerce Street, reported doing only 10 percent of his normal business. He described a "huge trench" and demolished sidewalk in front of his store, adding that customers take 20 to 30 minutes longer to find his storefront. Artistic Iron Works owner Tina Spruell echoed the sentiment, saying, "It looks like we're closed."
The $49 million Charleston Storm Drain project is funded by the Clark County Regional Flood Control District, the Regional Transportation Commission, and the city. The city said box culverts are in place and the project is in its final repaving phase, with access from Charleston to southbound Commerce Street scheduled to reopen Nov. 20. In a statement, the city acknowledged the difficulty for businesses but said the completed project should help alleviate flooding.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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