Hundreds of people in Hamilton have been sitting through longer drives because of construction on York Boulevard and Cannon Street. But now some business owners are asking the city for financial compensation after a significant decline in their sales.
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The City of Hamilton began construction on York Blvd. and Cannon St. earlier this month. The city says that on Friday, they began phase two of construction traffic staging from Bay Street to Dundurn Street North, which means all the traffic is now on the south side of the road, with one lane in each direction until December.
Some business owners say they’re losing money. Justin Abbiss, co-owner of Strathcona Market says they’ve lost about 50 per cent of their customers since phase two began.
“Essentially there’s no access on York Blvd. to our store which is our main gateway so any customers who are driving by or impulse customers aren’t reaching us right now,” Abbiss said.
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Dao Pham who owns a restaurant a few steps away, says he lost about 85 per cent of his sales since the construction began. “Usually we have about 20 or 30 people at lunch time and now it’s the daytime and nobody’s over there.”
Abbiss says the city allowed them to put up signs alerting customers of the detour, but they had to pay for it themselves which is on top of the financial burden they’re experiencing from losing customers.
He fully supports the city’s project but he’s hoping for some kind of financial compensation. “To mimic similar programs in other municipalities such as Montreal where they have a dedicated compensation program for long term construction projects in the city and the businesses that are disproportionately affected.”
Pham said, “We don’t need a lot… but at least for us… helping out to pay rent, to pay utilities.”
Ward 1 councillor Maureen Wilson says the city is putting up signs to help businesses and the construction is needed but when it comes to compensation.
“The city does not provide financial compensation we know that these critical investments in primary assets benefit the value of those businesses over the long run. My response to those businesses is that we are working with them to put up signs and alert people that those businesses are still open and I encourage all my friends and neighbours to frequent those businesses,” Wilson said.
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The city says the project is to upgrade bike lanes, improve intersections, and install water mains. The entire project involving both sides of the street is expected to last until Aug. 2025.