by Joao Bicalho
Staff Writer
Those who typically drive down Hendricks Avenue know the avenue was not the same as it is today. The multi-year destruction and construction project forced some businesses to close and left others on the brink of extinction. Others dealt with the challenges that not only affected traffic but area businesses as well.
While some enjoy the results the new construction brings to the area, others feel the impact created during those years was crucial to their businesses. Businesses that depended on pedestrian traffic faced more challenging times than others during the road-widening and infrastructure project.
Marcy Cook, manager of special initiatives for the City’s Public Works Department, said that the main goal of the project was to improve traffic movement. The City broadened sidewalks in an effort to improve on the overall accessibility for pedestrians. The landscaping, water, sewer and electrical systems were also updated, said Cook. The project started in 2005 and it was finished last year.
The most challenging part of the project was space, she said. The work site was narrow and difficult to work on.
“It was a tight working space with the existing building conditions,” said Cook.
It was a long project and there were several obstacles to overcome. Early on, workers found roller ties under the road that originally used for old street cars. Keeping the community informed of the progress was also an issue. The City had two people working full-time dedicated to community relations, something that proved wise given the delays associated with the project.
But now, the hope is that the troubles were worth it.
“We are happy with the results,” said Cook. “I would hope they are experiencing a better avenue.”
Mare’s Sweet Kabob, a restaurant on Hendricks Avenue, delayed its opening due to road construction.
“It was too long,” said Mare Sok, restaurant owner.
The business slowed down “tremendously” during that time, because, Sok said, accessibility to the restaurant was an issue.
“No one likes to walk across the terrain,” said Sok.
Traffic jams were also an issue, so many drivers took alternate routes that took them off Hendricks and into other parts of San Marco.
“They find other streets,” said Sok.
A few feet away, other businesses faced a different reality.
Brunet-Garcia Advertising Inc. was impacted differently by the road construction on Hendricks.
“Our business does not depend on foot traffic,” said Diane Brunet-Garcia, president and partner of the agency.
Much of the inconvenience for the employees of the agency was access to the workplace. While the project is complete, there are still issues that need to be addressed, according to some.
“The trees are not trimmed and not kept up,” said Brunet-Garcia.
A look around shows the ground is also filled with debris, such as Styrofoam cups and chip bags.
Others survived the project and are even busier.
Chris Matthews, a salesperson for the Tile Market of San Marco, said the construction period was long, but did not jeopardize the business in any way.
“There was the noise and digging and rattling of the windows,” said Matthews. “But that’s what construction is all about.”
Working in a partnership, construction workers would often help facilitate access to the shops by putting plywood sheets over areas that were unsafe to walk on.
When it was all said and done, Hendricks Avenue was better.
“The results were worth it,” said Matthews.
Ryan Buckley, co-owner of the Gallery Framery, said he moved after Hendricks’ construction was completed and the avenue was ready for business. He shared a more optimistic view based on what he has been experiencing since he moved in.
“We knew the positive would come and we are seeing that,” said Buckley.
The project connected all the area from San Marco Square to Hendricks Avenue and it is all coming together slowly, he said.
Buckley does not see the road construction as the main issue for the difficult times some businesses experienced on Hendricks. There is a global economic environment these days which makes competition much tougher than it used to be 50 years ago. For those businesses that were not able to compete, the nuisance created by the road construction became what Buckley described as “a nail in the coffin.”
He added that he already feels like a part of Downtown. Buckley and his father Jim, who is the co-owner of the gallery, are noticing more pedestrian traffic on the avenue and these customers are coming to the shop.
“We have walk-in customers,” said Buckley.
Sidewalks are large and made to walk, he said. People are discovering the area and walking all the way from the Southbank Riverwalk to San Marco. Customers already found the gallery and there was very little investment in marketing, he said.
Businesses that had a long desire to be on the Square are also coming to Hendricks, he said.
“It’s a viable option for those who wanted to be at the Square,” said Buckley. “Vespa moved in, that is sweet.”
With a genuine concern about the San Marco community and an excitement that goes beyond store hours, Buckley observed that the change with the road construction will help the real estate value of the area as well.
“The average rent went up,” said Buckley. “The value of the area is going up.”
A branch of Regions Bank will open where a vacant lot used to be, he added. Buckley said all these changes are possible because of City investments, he said.
“Those street projects allowed that to happen,” said Buckley.
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