Owners struggle with streetscape
Chef Ken Paxton of Nunnie’s Place at the Southside restaurant stands in the main door to the bar, which can’t be used because of construction along South Main Street in Washington.
Workers deal with a water line break Wednesday in the work area on South Main Street in Washington.
One morning in early summer, Renee Gregg was preparing to open her Washington restaurant for the day when a construction worker came in and asked her what to do with the canopy hanging outside.
“I said, ‘What do you mean?’ And he said, ‘We’re digging up the sidewalk,'” recalled Gregg from one of the restaurant’s dining rooms Thursday. “I had no idea what was going on. No one informed us.”
Gregg, who two years ago took ownership of Nunnie’s Place at the Southside, 352 S. Main St., said a downtown revitalization project is destroying her business.
“It’s just been a nightmare,” she said. “If this continues, we won’t make it.”
The third and final phase of Washington’s $1.3 million streetscape project involves installation of new sidewalks, lighting and stormwater inlet and pipe improvements from Railroad Street to Park Avenue, and the addition of traffic signals at the intersections of South Main and South streets and Park Avenue.
Parking has been limited and traffic restricted while crews work to remove the old sidewalks and unexpected problems have caused the intermittent closure of South Street and a disruption of utilities.
“Phase three – what a mess,” said Councilman Ken Westcott, department head of public works. “When you’re dealing with an older city, you run into things you didn’t anticipate.”
After removal of an oil storage tank and remediation of surrounding soil, Baianco Construction crews unearthed two gas lines – one abandoned and one active – that required repair by Columbia Gas. A water main was hit during the process, disrupting service to the area and flooding a portion of South Main Street early this week.
Other issues already uncovered in the project are a terra cotta culvert that Westcott estimates is more than 100 years old and trolley lines that were left in place and paved over.
“We’re trying very hard to work with business owners. I know they feel the effects,” said Westcott. “We’ll do everything we can to keep them open.”
But Gregg, who has had to close the restaurant several times since work began, said she has not been kept in the loop.
“I understand the potential to run into problems. I understand all of that,” she said. “All I’m asking is let us know so we can continue to run our business.”
Mayor Scott Putnam said he was told by a construction supervisor that crews are in contact with affected owners. A representative for Baianco Construction could not be reached for comment.
“I know it’s been a challenge for these business owners,” Putnam said. “This in no way, shape or form intended to harm (them). Our intent is to improve the image of the city and some of the infrastructure down there.”
Gregg doesn’t think improvements will ever make up for what she has lost. With profits “substantially less” than the same time last year, Gregg and chef Ken Paxton don’t think they’ll be able to survive the project.
“There’s been very little progress except destroying our business, which they’ve pretty much done,” Paxton said.
Added Gregg, “Everything we’ve worked for is in this place and it’s wrong to lose it because of something like this.”
Scott Fowler, one of the owners of Three Guyz Subz & Pizza Piez, 374 S. Main St., said business is “way down” since construction began. Even when they’ve kept the doors open, customers think they’re closed because signs and bricks have been removed from their building.
“It’s a mess down there,” Fowler said. “Let me put it this way – my brother and I do most of the work and we haven’t taken a pay since July 1.”
Bill Albano of Albano’s Produce on South Street said shipments have been disrupted by the work. The wholesale produce supplier is frustrated by the lack of information coming his way.
“Three years ago, there was a meeting about installing the stop lights. We haven’t had any other communication. I read about it in the paper,” Albano said. “You shouldn’t have to call them, they should call you.”
Scheduled work was disrupted while water and gas crews repaired lines, but Westcott said the contractor will return early next week. A Tuesday meeting is scheduled to discuss progress and determine a completion date, originally anticipated in November.
“Unfortunately, this will delay things,” said Westcott.