News Summary
Business owners along Main Street in Burlington are voicing concerns as construction from the Great Streets BTV project disrupts operations and threatens survival. Initiated to enhance the area’s walkability, the project has led to significant drops in foot traffic and sales for numerous establishments, with some closing permanently. Although the city has implemented support measures, many local businesses fear they may not last through the extended construction period, projected to continue into 2027.
Burlington – Business owners along Main Street are expressing deep concerns as ongoing construction from the Great Streets BTV project disrupts their operations and threatens their survival. Initiated in February 2024, the construction aims to enhance downtown Burlington by creating wider sidewalks, more flexible outdoor spaces, and improved water collection systems to make the area more walkable. However, with an expected completion date of November 2026, many local businesses are feeling the financial pinch.
As construction progresses, numerous business owners have reported significant decreases in customer foot traffic, with some experiencing sales drops between 20% and 50%. Well-known establishments like Nectar’s and The Gryphon have announced their permanent closures, citing dwindling foot traffic as a critical factor in their decisions. Other businesses, such as Honey Road, struggling to establish outdoor seating, have found their sales adversely affected due to the construction.
In an effort to alleviate difficulties stemming from the construction, the Burlington Department of Public Works (DPW) hired a public involvement coordinator to engage with local business owners and address their concerns. The DPW has been proactive by replacing water lines for Main Street property owners at no cost and implementing parking promotions to attract more customers downtown.
Despite these efforts, many business owners attended a city hall meeting recently to voice their frustrations and ask for additional assistance in coping with lost revenues. The worries are compounded by grim forecasts of how long the disruptions might last, with some fearing they may not survive until the project is completed.
In response to the financial pressures, various local businesses have made operational adjustments, including staff reductions and altered working hours. Some, like Brad Kelley, the owner of Burlington Wine Shop, have shifted their focus to email marketing in a bid to entice customers back amid lower walk-in traffic.
Progress on some aspects of the project has been made, including the completion of wider concrete sidewalks designed to accommodate more outdoor seating. However, the project has faced delays that have extended the timeline and worsened the challenges for local businesses. Proposed solutions such as one-way traffic to ease accessibility were deemed too costly and have only pushed back the timeline, with further completion now projected into 2027.
The city has acknowledged the impact of the construction on local businesses and has launched initiatives to support them. Some of the measures include increased advertising to drive traffic back downtown and the establishment of a loan fund specifically for those affected by the ongoing disruptions. Nonetheless, many business owners feel these efforts may not suffice given the scale of the hardship they are facing during this extended construction period.
This situation is part of a larger initiative by the city, aimed at upgrading infrastructure and redeveloping deteriorating properties in downtown Burlington. While the goals of this project hold promise for long-term city resilience, the immediate hardships imposed by the lengthy construction period are raising urgent questions about the strategies being utilized to support local business owners during this challenging transition.
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HERE Resources
North Carolina’s Construction Industry Outlook
Additional Resources
- Vermont Biz: Burlington Business Owners Look Forward After Construction
- Seven Days: Main Street Construction is Hurting Burlington Businesses
- Burlington Free Press: The Gryphon Restaurant Closes Due to Construction
- NBC 5: Burlington Main Street Project Update
- Wikipedia: Urban Development
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