Co-owner of Kelly's Computer Works Darryl Arnold in North Battleford is concerned about how the UPAR work will impact his business this summer after already dealing with reduced sales from the COVID-19 restrictions. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Business reaction

Local businesses concerned about UPAR construction amid pandemic

Apr 29, 2020 | 4:16 PM

Some local businesses on 100 Street are concerned about the impact from construction this summer after dealing with reduced sales from the province’s COVID-19 restrictions.

The City of North Battleford plans to rehabilitate the road between 100 Street from 12th to 14th Avenue and replace aged piping as part of its Underground Pipeline and Asphalt Replacement (UPAR) work.

Darryl Arnold, co-owner of Kelly’s Computer Works, located at 1281 100 Street, is upset about the work planned ahead that will take place outside his business.

“Obviously there are people up the street and other businesses on these two blocks that are going to hurt from this if [the city] decides to go ahead with UPAR,” he said.

While his business does have a back door as alternative access, he said, it will involve some work to make it easily accessible to customers.

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Arnold hopes this year’s work would have been done as part of last year’s project instead. He said his street was closed to traffic due to construction south of his business, starting at 12th Avenue, last year so he feels he has been hit two years in a row.

“We had a pretty bleak summer last year,” he said.

He said if his street is to be closed this summer now, topped off by the impact on his business from the COVID-19 restrictions, that makes it “just that much worse.”

Arnold said while his business has been able to remain open during the COVID-19 restrictions because it provides an essential service, the shop has reduced hours and fewer customers.

“We weren’t looking forward to this to begin with, but now with COVID it is just a little bit worse,” he said.

Across the street, the owner of Freedom Skateboards And Snowboards at 1318 100 Street would like to see the city’s construction postponed to next year so the store is able to recoup some of its lost business.

“It’s a little scary,” owner Alanna Tucker said of the prospect of summer UPAR construction affecting her sales.

She said the business will be “limping through” the period profit-wise. Tucker anticipates the store-frontage will be impacted for two months. Without having the drive by traffic she said it will hurt sales.

The store that sells clothing, shoes, skateboards and snowboards, and accessories, has been closed to all foot-traffic since March 21 during the COVID-19 restrictions, although it continues to provide online sales with curbside pick up or delivery. Retail businesses won’t be able to re-open until May 19, under the province’s re-open the provincial economy plan.

Tucker was hoping to see a lot of business this summer, especially in August for the back-to-school season — the store’s next busy season for sales, which would “get me through until maybe Christmas.”

The business does have a side parking lot and a back-door that could be re-configured to accommodate customer access during the UPAR work, but she said if people can’t easily access the shop from the front when the construction is underway it will hurt business.

Tucker is already concerned about what the outcome of reduced sales will look like when the shop can finally open after being closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

“I’d like to see it put off until next year,” she said of the construction work. “I understand it needs to be done. I had come to terms with it being done this year and was OK with it, but it was before all this happened. I think they need to reassess it.”

Tucker questions whether her business is “going to survive another two slow months.”

The city accepted a bid that came in under budget at council’s meeting this week for the underground portion of the work, for several projects planned ahead including the 100 Street work. Council was concerned the city wouldn’t get the same pricing if it held off another year. It will be deciding on the roadway part of the work next. The city plans to complete the final portion of the 100 Street work this year.

Council discussed the possibility of postponing making a decision on the underground work bid for a week, to have more time to meet with businesses, but was concerned that could impact timelines for construction to be completed this summer.

The city previously visited businesses that would be impacted by the construction work to discuss the project shortly before the COVID-19 situation started. It planned to have a follow-up meeting on the issue with property owners in late March but that had to be cancelled due to the province’s COVID-19 restrictions.

The city plans to consult with businesses next via an online platform to further discuss the project and look at specific cases to find ways to “mitigate impacts as much as possible,” Mayor Ryan Bater said in an email.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW