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The City of Edmonton won’t be giving grants to businesses on Stony Plain Road struggling financially because of construction delays to build out the west leg of the Valley Line LRT.
City council this week rejected a pilot project that would have made $2,500 grants available for about 100 businesses around Stony Plain Road directly affected by the LRT project, a pool of $250,000 in total. Local property and shop owners, and business advocacy groups, have been calling on the city for support with the impacts of construction lingering from one to three years, depending on the stretch of road.
Todd Janes, executive director for the Stony Plain Road Business Association, said many of their businesses are financially struggling and inconvenienced by the LRT construction. Some have shut down or moved.
Expecting businesses to shoulder lengthy delays, he said, is “beyond the pale” — some work promised to take only one year has stretched to three.
“If I’m a municipal government and I’m hiring people to do the work that I want to initiate, and it’s taking a lot longer, and it’s causing negative impact, then someone should probably be responsible for that.”
Visitors are greeted by noise, dust, and missing sidewalks, making it harder for people to navigate a maze of construction hoarding, fencing, and closed side streets on their way to local vendors.
Janes said many shop owners are resilient and prepared to make adjustments, shops between 149 Street and 156 Street in particular have struggled. They have waited two years longer than first promised for sidewalks on just one side of the road to be replaced. Work on the south sidewalks was finished in July.
“The issue isn’t just ‘oh, poor business.’ I think these businesses have been really extremely willing citizens,” Janes said. “But then it’s the second year, and now into the third year (for the sidewalks) … That is more than should be expected of any individual resident or business owner.”
There’s a gluten-free bakery and “the most inconvenient convenience store” in the city there trying to make things work.
Some tenants told him they’re on the verge of bankruptcy. Just last month a 60-year-old vacuum shop closed its doors, he said.
“I understand construction is part of our life, but … it’s dragged on so long that promises are not being met, that businesses are losing their livelihoods.”
Despite the impacts, city administration did not recommend councillors go forward with the grants because it could set a new precedent.
But to Calder, city council should intervene in “extreme” cases like this one.
“They’re not listening to the people,” he said. “We just don’t matter. We just don’t matter at all.”
Six-year battle
The grant was the latest idea brought forward by Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack.
Four times in the past six years he’s tried to start a program to support businesses during construction. He sees programs in Montreal, and now Calgary, and wonders why Edmonton can’t follow suit. He thinks it doesn’t make the city seem business-friendly.
“I do think there is a moral obligation or us to be a little bit more involved in supporting small businesses during long-term projects. I’m not talking about the project that’s taking four to five months — a road getting rebuilt. That’s part of living in a city. But when you have something that is going to take a few years, I think we need to make sure we are doing everything possible so the business is still around when it’s done.”
Knack said he thought a pilot project with a relatively small budget specific to Stony Plain Road instead of all businesses might be supported by his colleagues this time. His motion to create a program for council to potentially finalize in the fall budget was defeated in a 5-8 vote. Only councillors Knack, Sarah Hamilton, Aaron Paquette, Jennifer Rice, and Anne Stevenson in favour.
But Knack isn’t giving up on the idea of a program like this.
“I am forever and always going to be persistent, so I’m going to figure out a different way forward.”
In a statement late Friday, Po Sun, the city’s technical manager for the Valley Line, said the city and Marigold “currently undertakes various efforts to mitigate disruption during construction,” including,
• Reviewing and monitoring traffic accommodations to ensure the safety of all users around construction sites;
• Distributing construction bulletins to provide advance notice of any traffic disruptions or changes to access;
• Maintaining access to businesses, including providing clear signage, wayfinding, and pathways for customers; and
• Staging construction to ensure access to businesses and pedestrian access are maintained or alternative access is provided.
“Despite mitigation efforts, the City understands how impactful construction is on businesses,” Sun said, adding both are “committed to offering support to businesses impacted by construction, including a robust stakeholder relations program.”
As for timelines, Sun said: “Construction on Stony Plain Road will be ongoing until Valley Line West is completed.”
“While it’s still too early to provide a completion date for Valley Line West, Marigold is working hard this year to complete major infrastructure including the elevated guideway, reopening the Stony Plain Road bridge, and laying the first section of track,” Sun added.
