Inglewood businesses frustrated over construction work
Posted May 7, 2023 12:46 pm.
Last Updated May 7, 2023 3:38 pm.
Inglewood businesses are frustrated over claims of lack of communication from the City of Calgary regarding an upcoming road closure happening along 9 Avenue SE.
They claim the closure is for planned construction work, which will significantly impact outdoor patios along the 1300 block.
“I found out about the street work by coincidence,” said Rebecca O’Brien, the Inglewood BIA executive director. “There has been no advance notification from the Ward 9 office about the upcoming closure. For two months I have been pleading with the city for information that could help businesses plan for the street closure, and my requests have been met with either vague information or silence.
“As a result, the lack of communication could create up to 50 per cent losses of much needed revenue, in particular for those businesses with patios.”
Veronica Amaya, the owner of Canela Café, was shocked when she found out her patio licence had not been issued due to the construction work. She only knew through the Inglewood BIA.
“I feel frustrated about not knowing when this is happening,” said Amaya. “It’s going to impact myself, customers, employees, and business as a whole. I have done all the required paperwork for the patios, hired staff, and planned the patio construction process. We are the only vegan bakery in Calgary with a storefront. We are a destination who depends on foot traffic.”
The Inglewood BIA says affected business are feeling “neglected,” while those who are not affected have had their patios approved. It also asks the city to “take a closer look” at communication processes with small businesses.
“Forty percent of Canada’s gross domestic product and two-thirds of the labour force in this country are provided by small businesses” said O’Brien. “Small businesses are the backbone of the economy. Post-pandemic, with higher food prices, rents and labour costs, the profit for restaurants is two to four cents on the dollar, which is already very small. To not notify businesses, so they can plan for what’s ahead and mitigate further hits, indicates a bureaucratic indifference from the city that borders on cruelty.”
In a statement, the city’s Utilities Delivery Business Unit told CityNews they will be doing work this season to replace a water main on 9 Avenue SE in Inglewood between 12 and 13 Street SE.
According to the city, the water main broke during the winter of 2017 disrupting the water service “much longer” than expected and prompting the city to fabricate parts to fix the problem — knowing the age and the size of the pipes.
The city adds they are working on coordinating construction around both the seasonal patios and the many events which are held in Inglewood.
“The start date for this construction was tentatively set for late May, and we are working to coordinate with the BIA, local businesses, and residents in the area to complete this necessary work and reduce the impact of construction as much as possible,” reads the statement.
“We understand construction is an inconvenience and we are working to reduce those impacts including:
• The work area will be the north side of 9 Avenue between 12 and 13 Street SE, as well as 13 Street between 9 Avenue and the alley.
• Two way traffic will be maintained on 9 Avenue SE. We will have one lane for west and eastbound traffic in the current eastbound lanes.
• Pedestrian access and access to businesses will be maintained while crews are working.”
— With files Tiffany Goodwein
