I have so much gratitude to the residents who are shopping and using the services of the businesses in our community.
My office has received many questions and inquiries related to the Stage 2 LRT construction and the Richmond Road Complete Streets projects as it relates to the small businesses in the area.
Question: Can the City give financial compensation or a tax break to businesses impacted by construction?
Answer: Sadly, as per Section 106 of the Municipal Act, 2012, the City nor its contractors are not permitted to offer direct compensation to affected businesses. Our commitment remains to ensure that access to businesses is maintained and to inform businesses in a timely manner of the upcoming work and changes which may impact them.
Question: What is the City doing to support businesses?
Answer: Here are some of what Stage 2 and KEV have been able to support businesses with
- Detour signage including signage with business names and logos are in place along Richmond Road and adjacent streets.
- Additional wayfinding signs are currently in fabrication and will be installed to assist with wayfinding specifically for the 911 Richmond Road shopping plaza.
- The traffic staging is planned in such a way to reduce the number of traffic configurations. This is in an effort to reduce the number of changes and to let motorists and pedestrians get used to each traffic stage.
- The contractor has prepared and sent custom wayfinding maps for all businesses that have requested them to help customers get to their location.
- The Stage 2 project team has encouraged all business owners on Richmond Road to sign up for the Richmond Road Complete Streets email updates to stay up to date on construction progress and have advanced notice of upcoming impacts.
- Specific construction impacts have been individually communicated to business owners by email and through site visits from both City staff and the construction team.
- At public meetings, the Stage 2 project team and Councillor Kavanagh’s office have promoted the message of shopping local to support the businesses on Richmond Road during construction.
- The contractor is also conducting a mail out campaign to the local community with over 12 participating businesses at no cost to the businesses.
- Additional commercial signage has been permitted on the site for businesses interested in producing signage of their own.
- Google Maps was notified and modifications have been accepted to assist with wayfinding in the construction area.
- The contractor has promoted the Richmond Road businesses to their staff and has procured goods and services from these businesses, where appropriate.
Question: How can the community support the businesses?
Answer: I continue to encourage community members to shop and support the services offered by our local businesses, especially during this holiday season.
