AUGUSTA, Ga. — As plans for a major overhaul of Broad Street move forward, local business owners are voicing concerns about the potential impacts of the construction, which is expected to last for at least two years. The redevelopment project, which aims to improve the downtown area, is causing significant anxiety among merchants, many of whom fear they may not survive the disruption.

Penelope Ballas-Stewart, a restaurant owner on Broad Street, expressed her worries to city commissioners, noting the uncertainty surrounding the future of her business. “You know, months or years in some cases, which these projects are taking, I don’t see some surviving,” she said. Ballas-Stewart is not alone in her apprehension, as other business owners fear that prolonged construction will drive away customers and hurt their bottom lines.

Dennis Abrams, another Broad Street business owner, shared similar concerns. “Two years of construction, any business owner is worried. You just hope your patrons stick with you, loyal customers, and some hope you get through it,” he said. The prospect of losing regular foot traffic and facing interruptions to their operations has left many feeling uneasy about the future.

A significant point of contention is the reduction in available parking spaces during the construction. Business owners were alarmed when the initial plans revealed a dramatic decrease in parking. Augusta’s Traffic Engineer reassured commissioners that the plans had been redesigned to include 150 additional parking spots. However, many business owners believe this still falls short of compensating for the spaces that will be lost.

Ballas-Stewart questioned whether the parking adjustments would truly benefit local businesses. “Is it a net gain? Which is what we hope for and what we were told when this project was first introduced, that it would be a net gain on Broad Street, not a loss,” she said.

While business owners are cautious, some expressed hope that the changes will ultimately benefit the city in the long run. Brad Usry, another local business owner, emphasized the importance of maintaining access to businesses during the construction. “Just access to the business 24/7, that’s one thing part of the management of this project needs to give us access and communicate with us,” he said.

Despite the challenges ahead, some officials and business owners are optimistic that cooperation between all parties will ease the strain on local businesses. “I heard a sense of cooperation up there. I think everybody’s on board. They know how important this is for the business owners and for Augusta in general because this project is a game changer,” Usry added.

However, not all business owners are convinced that the changes will be beneficial in the short term. For many along Broad Street, the road to recovery may be a difficult one. As construction moves forward, the true impact on the local economy remains to be seen.