Is Tallahassee Construction Suppressing Local Businesses?

(TALLAHASSEE, FL.) The most recent city commissioners meeting featured over a dozen business owners, who came to express their discontent with local construction.

In matching white T-shirts, business owners rallied together to convince the city to speed up the reconstruction of several major roads.

Video Credit: YouTube / City of TLH Meetings

In a unanimous vote, the commissioners chose to expedite construction, aiming to complete it in the upcoming summer months.

Photo credit: City of Tallahassee

Maclay Boulevard is the road garnering the most attention from business owners, which has been unusable since last September.

The assistant city manager admitted the immediate impact on local businesses was much worse than expected. She had elaborated upon the city’s prior timeline and expectations for construction to be finished, and how to alleviate traffic-related issues.

Local business owners of all tenures were in attendance, many with statistics to show their difficulties. 

Video Credit: YouTube / City of TLH Meetings / Serena Moy, President of the Market District Association

“I'd like to thank the city manager who met with us to hear firsthand what we are suffering and the businesses that are down overall 20 to 25%. I'd like you to let that sink in. Those are lives. Those are families. Those are jobs.”

Serena Moy represented numerous business owners with her statement; many came with even harsher testimonies.

Susie Bush Transu, the owner of Heart and Soul, also spoke. Having owned Heart and Soul for the past ten years, Transu elaborated on not only the new financial hardships but also the community impact.

Video Credit: YouTube / City of TLH Meetings / Susie Bush Transu

“ I know how to drive. I know how to manipulate when there is a roadblock. I could not do anything. Neither could our employees, team members, clients, potential clients. You could not enter or exit the Market Street District if your life depended on it. You cannot exit the Market Street District.”

Several owners spoke about what appears to be a lack of oversight and effort put towards the Market District during construction.

Luckily, the city commissioner expressed a need to reintroduce jobs and better protect the Market District area.

Video Credit: YouTube / City of TLH Meetings / City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow

“I know your struggles. I lived there. I had a business on Gain Street long before the road construction there and it was frankly a nightmare, even with the city's efforts to try to accommodate.”

All of the commissioners agreed that the construction was causing strife to the local community, and expressed a desire to speed up construction if possible.

Reconstruction for Maclay Boulevard was a part of a much larger 2011 Market District Action Plan, which also included other Market District streets. Unfortunately for business owners, the Market District streets needed a complete rebuild.

In an attempt to prevent floodwater from over-accumulating, there is a new pond system under construction.

Maclay Boulevard was also a safety concern.

With poorly distinguished (dirt) sidewalks, the four-way stop was seen as a danger to pedestrians and drivers. The new roundabout was made in an attempt to be safer and more accommodating.

If you have any questions or concerns, please comment and email me at jason.f@lead4earth.org.