Infrastructure plan sparks concern among downtown merchants
By Justin Tubbs
When it comes to downtown infrastructure replacement, city officials and the Ennis City Commission agree the project is long overdue.
Economic Development Director Marty Nelson said Tuesday the aggressive timeline for the project is there to help downtown business owners.
“We think it can be done in that time frame. We are going to do everything we can to make sure it does,” he said.
The city estimates that to complete downtown infrastructure which extends from North McKinney to Main Street and from West Belknap to Milam Street, will take approximately 12 months and would begin in January 2017.
The sensitivity toward the needs of downtown business owners, Nelson says, is important because many small businesses depend on day-to-day business just to stay afloat.
Mitch Penfold, who owns Str8 Vapes vapor shop on West Knox Street, is one of the business owners who could potentially be affected by the construction in downtown Ennis. He spoke during the public hearing portion of Monday night’s City Commission meeting, voicing his concerns.
Tuesday, he explained his concerns to the EDN.
“For some businesses, there is already a pretty small customer base,” he said. “When you take away parking, that customer base would potentially shrink.”
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Posted by Justin Tubbs
on Jun 22 2016. Filed under Business, City news, News.
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