South Avenue Businesses Discuss Streetscape

Construction work on the Southside Streetscape, a project to beautify the South Avenue business corridor, has begun to take a toll on local businesses.  

The project originally began on the north side of South Avenue where there are few businesses due to the train station. In recent weeks, construction has begun on the other side of the street, which is lined with businesses. Large swaths of sidewalk have been removed from in front of the stores, leaving a large dirt ditch in its place. 

In order to gain entry into any of the businesses, customers must cross a makeshift plywood platform that bridges the ditch from curb to doorway. The project includes replacing all of the sidewalks along South Avenue, and installing new curbing and new lighting fixtures. The newly designed streetscape will give businesses on South Avenue a look similar to that which downtown north side businesses have enjoyed.

The restaurant businesses appear to be feeling the largest impact from the on-going project. The Subway sandwich shop sat empty at lunch time.

"It's two o'clock. Usually there are some people in line," said a Subway employee who asked to remain nameless. "A lot of customers are not happy. We've had a drop in business for the past couple of days." He further remarked, "I don't think it was as well planned out as they thought it would be. I don't think it was well coordinated. They still haven't removed the trees they said they'd remove."

Ryan Mann, of Hershey's Subs Deli and Catering, concurred with the Subway employee. "The biggest complaint I receive is why wasn't this project done in June and July instead of September and October."   

Mann said he witnessed a drastic drop in business last week when the construction moved to his storefront. It has moved on since then. He voiced his concern about what the overall project would do to business. "This is a one-stop shop sort of place, people aren't going to like having to go pay for parking and then have to walk back for a sandwich."

Town Engineer Kris McAloon has said that the town has required the outside contractors to make every effort to assist businesses along South Avenue weather the construction period. This includes requiring planks or other methods to allow access to all stores where the sidewalk has been torn up.

It appears the construction has had less of an affect on non-food businesses. Dominick Festa of Continental Tailoring had only good things to report. "We were given notice," said Festa as he showed a release that the township of Westfield had sent him detailing when the work would be done. "The customers call, they still come." He went on to compliment the construction workers. "The men are very gentle," he said.

The project is due to be completed in three to five weeks.