Drivers on Peace Portal Drive are now met with large metal fences next to Drayton Harbor Oyster Company. Dotted along the metal fence are signs conveying the same message: “We’re open for business during construction.”
During the first couple of weeks of the Downtown Revitalization Project, some Blaine businesses, such as Bordertown Pizza and Paso del Norte, have faced a 50 percent decrease from business prior to the street closure. The earlier level had already been depressed due to the decline of Canadian travelers, who are forgoing travel for political and financial reasons.
Typically, the summer months are the busiest, with downtown businesses relying on them to save for the slower winter months. Owners are now feeling compounded effects as they were already down due to a decrease in Canadian visitors and general tourism.
“I wish they would’ve waited until the end of August to start this,” Bordertown Pizza owner Laura Massaro said of the city’s construction. “I get they’re doing everything they can and the end result will be great, but businesses here mostly rely on our summer business.”
The first phase of the Downtown Revitalization Project began July 14, which closed vehicle traffic on Peace Portal Drive from H to Boblett streets. A vehicle detour has been routed on 3rd Street and pedestrians may access businesses from the alley.
The first phase includes Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades, including the replacement of trees buckling the sidewalks, new sidewalks and pedestrian rails.
City manager Mike Harmon wrote in an email to The Northern Light that phase one was ahead of its September 14 completion date. Phase two will begin after and include closures on Peace Portal Drive from G to H streets.
Paso del Norte owner Miguel Ramos said he is in a tough position. In late March 2024, a kitchen fire closed the restaurant for nearly 10 months before reopening in mid-January. The business didn’t have time to financially rebound before construction started, blocking customers from the main entrance.
“We lost a lot of customers. People don’t come to town like they used to,” Ramos said. “We’re trying to get back up, only to be put back down.”
Harmon said he believes the city has sufficiently prepared businesses. City staff hand-delivered a flyer to the affected business owners three weeks before the beginning of the project. They have been advertising the closure in The Northern Light and have a digital sign stating businesses are open, Harmon said.
However, several business owners, including Massaro, said they don’t feel seen by the city.
“Nobody asked us anything,” Massaro said. “We were just told, ‘This is happening July 14, we’re going to close down your street and good luck.’”
Julie Schrader, an employee at Hagen’s of Blaine, said she feels the city did a good job preparing the store and business has remained unchanged. She added the parcel store’s customers have called confused while trying access the store.
Blaine Arts Council president Margaret Owens said she understands the need for and timing of construction.
“I can imagine somebody who’s not spry tripping on those sidewalks,” Owens said. “It’s something that needed to be done. There’s only so much time that we have around here that we can do that kind of work, logistically.”
The revitalization is still impacting the arts council. The gallery will be closed in August because of the construction and the council plans to host art classes in the interim.
For some, on the other side of construction, business has unexpectedly increased.
Monte Landucci, owner of Monte’s Just A Bite, has seen an increase in foot traffic due to the construction. However, he is prepared for the business to drop when phase two of construction begins in front of his storefront.
“The city understands the importance of minimizing impacts to our downtown business owners,” Harmon said. “It will work diligently to communicate changes to the schedule and will strive to keep the project on or ahead of schedule.”
More information on the downtown revitalization project can be found at bit.ly/3J8wc3i.
