Business owners in the French Quarter voiced their frustrations Tuesday over the ongoing construction on Decatur Street, which has caused financial losses and uncertainty about when the barricades will come down.
This September, the Sewerage and Water Board said the project will be complete.
However, businesses along the corridor stressed that they need more than promises—they need action.
“I’ve seen a lot of deadlines, and I don’t like hanging my hat on them because I don’t think it’s going to be done,” said Yancy Theodore, owner of One More Pie. “Whatever they say is going to be done. I know they’re doing their best to get it done, but because it’s New Orleans, anything can happen.”
On Tuesday, there was a hiccup in removing fencing near the 1000 block of Decatur Street.
The Sewerage and Water Board announced that Ursuline and Decatur streets will soon open for pedestrian access, and fencing on St. Peter Street will be removed before the weekend.
However, Bob Ellis, the lawyer representing the businesses, argued that there is no reason to delay further.
“Wherever you see white concrete, when you all go out there, check it out. You’ll see that a lot of the streets covered in it, that concrete is safe for pedestrians to walk on,” Ellis said. “They could do that right now. They’re choosing not to. And they’re saying it’s safety hazards or whatever else. But meanwhile, they’ve killed the street. And that’s why we’ve lost three businesses. Lord knows how many more we’ll lose if they don’t remove the barricades.”
The city is encouraging businesses to apply for a grant program that offers up to $5,000 in funds.
However, business owners said the amount is insufficient to offset their losses.
“They’re making an effort to give u something,” said Steve Smith, business partner of Turtle Bay, “But, you know, when you’ve lost several hundred thousand dollars over nine months, $5,000 is kind of tough.”
While business owners are hopeful the end of construction is near, they remain concerned about the impact on their employees.
“People are making tips; it’s all relative. If the business isn’t making as much, neither are the employees,” said Smith, “and I feel for them, too. We’re doing everything we can to keep them employed. And to their credit, they’ve stuck around with us.”
Beyond what was said in the meeting, Sewerage and Water Board declined further comment, citing pending litigation.
To learn more about the grant program, click here.
READ MORE:Sewerage and Water Board meet with Decatur businesses to answer questions about project completion
