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Downtown road closures lead to complaints from business owners
YOUNGSTOWN
Some downtown business owners are complaining about the impact the improvement projects to sections of Market and Federal streets will have on them.
“I think it’s awful,” Anne Massullo Sabella, owner of Avalon Downtown, 17 W. Federal St., said of the project shutting vehicular traffic in front of her restaurant. “Eighty percent of our business is take-out, so it will impact us. People in Youngstown don’t like to walk. They like to pull up to the door and get their food. They won’t be able to do that.”
Business at Silver’s Vogue Shop, 27 W. Federal St., “will be quiet” during the road work, said Barry Silver, the clothing store’s owner.
“Customers come to town looking for a parking space,” he said. “When they see the roads are closed, they just leave. I’ve been down here for over 47 years. I’ve never seen the city close streets as often as they have [in recent years] and disregard businesses.”
Starting Monday, the city closed Federal Street between Phelps and Walnut streets, and Market Street from Front to Commerce streets.
The streets will be closed until Aug. 26 for resurfacing work.
The first day of work caused traffic backups, particularly on Phelps and Front streets, said Charles Shasho, the city’s deputy director of public works.
Also, motorists made left turns from Phelps Street onto Boardman Street, forcing them to turn around because Market is closed, he said.
“The intent is to get in and get out and not drag this out over a long period of time,” Shasho said. “The goal is to do this as quickly as possible. It’s a high-traffic area. We’re asking people to have patience. We’re trying to get it done as quickly as possible. It’s a little inconvenience now for a nicely paved road.”
But Nicholas Yurchyk, owner of Vogue Jewelers at 19 W. Federal St. since 1951, isn’t convinced.
“I think it’s lousy,” he said. “It will impact business. Right now, people complain about parking. This only makes it worse. It’s a long way to go from a place to park to the businesses.”
Suzanne Barbati, president and executive director of OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology at 11 W. Federal St., said she hasn’t received any complaints from customers.
“I am sure it’s going to make downtown more inviting to our guests eventually,” she said. “It hasn’t impacted our traffic yet. We look forward to a nice, freshly paved street. I’m really excited the city is making an effort to improve things. We’re excited to have them continue to do work like this.”