French Quarter owners are planning to take legal action as they say a Sewerage and Water Board project on Decatur is affecting their bottom lines.
Recently, there have been block parties in an effort to bring in foot traffic, but they say the extra efforts aren’t offsetting all the construction.
“How long can we keep the doors open? Is a big question that we have on a daily basis right now,” said Christina Marullo, who owns a shop in the French Quarter.
Marullo’s shop, on both floors empty, as she claims construction fences limit foot traffic in front of her shop.
“We have no access to the side street, so our deliveries cannot get to us. We’re also helping a resident get his trash a block and a half away,” Marullo said. “We are now taking legal action with hope. With the hope to have these green screens down.”
Bob Ellis is a former New Orleans City attorney.
He’s currently filing an injunction against the Sewerage and Water Board, representing businesses, residents and employees affected by the project.
Part of the injunction aims to remove fencing from areas where construction crews are not present.
“When you block foot traffic and you block off the ability for people to cross the streets, you’re going to stop people from immediately going there, it’s dead for a reason,” Ellis said.
Ellis also hopes the injunction will give businesses an adequate timeline on when the Decatur project will be done and get it fully staffed so it can be done faster.
“If you go out there today, I bet you see five people on the whole entire strip, and it’s a federally funded contract, so why aren’t they working hard?” Ellis said.
“I would hope that they can speed up the process, become more organized,” Marullo said.
Business owners along Decatur, including those that have closed up shop, are expected to meet Sunday at 2 to discuss the injunction that’ll be filed next week.
Meanwhile, Sewerage and Water Board says the project is expected to be done in the fall.
WDSU reached out to SWB about the injunction; the organization has not yet responded.
READ MORE:French Quarter businesses affected from Decatur Construction project seek legal action
