Griffi’s Gripes: Sure, Phase 1 didn’t go well, but don’t blame downtown businesses

Lee Griffi

Editor

Woodstock and area, it’s time to get your keesters back to downtown Woodstock, and there are several reasons why.

The businesses located in the area of the first phase are feeling the effects of construction. They have had to deal with over three months of road and other work, along with decreased foot traffic. Not to mention, no one can park a car on Dundas Street.

I am in the core a few times every week and check in with some to see how sales have been affected, and it isn’t pretty. Some are fortunate to only be down 10 to 15 per cent but others have lost as much as 50 to 75 per cent. Anyone who has owned a small business knows how devastating those numbers can be, including me. Over time, it is the difference between staying open and closing the doors for good.

Construction is a fickle thing and just about nothing goes as planned. We will likely never know the exact story behind the stamp screw-up but I am guessing that same stamp will be here, be ready and be used during Phase 2.

My front-page story in this paper may seem critical of the communications to business owners and the greater public, but the positive part is this – downtown stores are open and are hungry for our business. Many are counting on this weekend’s Streetfest to level the playing field, if I can use a sports analogy.

Whether I agree with the entire Streetscape project is irrelevant. It is likely here to stay, barring some act of God, so we need to get used to the premise and the nearly $5.7 million Phases 1 and 2 will cost taxpayers. As of now, the price tag for the entire project could reach nearly $50 million, but that is sure to rise as the cost of construction continues to increase. It’s hard to say what could happen if enough council members are replaced following next fall’s municipal election. That’s a long way away and I for one am not smart enough to predict the economic future of the city.

That’s the beauty of print journalism. I can separate my personal thoughts, which I am jotting down here, from the facts of how Phase 1 has gone. It’s painfully obvious everyone can do better, but Phase 2 is coming soon and I hope improvements are made. There is plenty of retail space available out Norwich Avenue near the 401, and I support some of them, but there is nothing like parking the car, walking around a downtown, and getting to know the folks who own the places they work at.

I grew up in Stratford, one of the most iconic downtowns anywhere in Ontario and perhaps beyond. Sure, it has the Stratford Festival, which brings in big tourist dollars, but they also have a tremendous amount of local support. Woodstock needs the same and in bigger numbers.

Summer Streetfest may very well tell the tale of the short-term future of the city’s downtown. I’ll be there and I hope to see you. Let’s support our small business owners and give them a reason to stay open. I hear someone is shucking oysters. I love oysters.