The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) announced its support for a business stabilization fund to help local businesses adversely impacted by road improvements along 23rd Avenue.
According to ULMS, the Construction and traffic closures have decimated local businesses. The crisis has been well-known in the neighborhood for months, and relief is long overdue.
“To avoid future scenarios where road work impacts local retailers, restaurants and other small businesses, the City of Seattle must improve its outreach and planning,” said Pamela Banks, president and CEO of ULMS.
“I have spent much of my public service career helping businesses in the Rainier Valley, Mercer Street and throughout the city successfully cope with construction projects. We need an energetic and meaningful dialogue with the community to get it right,” she said. “We can’t ignore a problem and then over-react by telling neighbors SDOT may abandon the project when emotions get high. We need to make sure all City departments are working together to understand and mitigate the problem before it becomes an economic emergency.”
ULMS recommends the following:
· Better co-ordination between SDOT and the Department of Neighborhoods. The Department of Neighborhoods should be the community’s advocate and resource in all road projects that impact local businesses and homes.
· Door-to-door outreach. Intensive efforts need to be taken to ensure local residents and business owners know upcoming construction schedules.
· Better street signage. Ineffective and often contradictory signage often confuses potential customers, prompting people to change their travel routes and shopping routines.
“We have been sounding the alarm over 23rd Avenue for many months,” said Banks. “The problem is not new. The political will to fix it is. We need to make sure our elected representatives and city departments understand what’s happening in our neighborhoods, and offer appropriate resources to help communities survive and thrive.”
