KINGSTON'S 'BIG DIG' PROJECT IS JUST A FEW
WEEKS AWAY FROM STARTING.
PRINCESS STREET AND ITS SIDEWALKS
WILL BE TORN UP FROM KING TO WELLINGTON STREETS.
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAS TO HAPPEN --
BUT SOME AREN'T HAPPY WITH THE FINAL PLANS.
NEWSWATCH'S HEATHER BUTTS HAS MORE.
Towering snow banks are making it difficult to park in downtown Kingston, especially for delivery trucks.
But some business owners are concerned that problem won't be gone, when the snow is. Rudi Mogl's concern isn't for when major construction
begins, rather when it's complete.
Rudi Mogl, Tara Natural Foods
"They're changing the way the sidewalk looks and works outside the store."
It's hard to tell with the snow, but this space in front of
this familiar downtown store is considered a bulb... wider than the others
and does not allow for parking.
It does however allow for easy delivery.
But after the big dig this spring, there will be parking in front of the store, making
curbside deliveries an added challenge.
Rudi Mogl, Tara Natural Foods
"What that means is we would have to unload between cars, or go down the street about seven meters."
That may not seem like a big deal, but when you're unloading a 3 thousand pound skid of juice, flour or produce, it is.
And for a grocery store, that happens on a daily basis.
But Mogl isn't alone.
It's going to be a problem for many stores along this strip that don't have a back door.
Walter Sipin, Owner, Wayfarer Books
"When I bring books into the store, I often have to bring them in early in the morning or late at night, because it's very hard to find parking during the day."
The city says it tried to work wi
th all downtown
businesses, but there is a lot to accommodate on a project of this size.
Mark Van Buren, Director of Engineering
"With underground infrastructure, trying to maintain two lanes of traffic, on street parking, wider sidewalks, landscaping, a whole lot of street furniture.
It becomes very much a balancing act to make sure we can get all of those things in accommodated an appropriate way."
But for some, that's not good enough.
Walter Sipin, Owner, Wayfarer Books
"He is the anchor business on the block, so I would strongly encourage them to take a second look at his request."
Hundreds of people have signed a petition to support
the owner of Tara Natural Foods
, which he'll be taking to city hall.
To him, moving a curb is easier than moving his business.
Rudi Mogl
"I like down town, but it sure makes me wonder how much longer I can operate here. I need access
And I'm not getting it."
Moglis hoping the support of business neighbours
will help his case. But time is running out
.. the big dig begins February 25.
Heather Butts, CKWS Newswatch, Kingston