Dynamic duo Elnora and Pierre Pittman rocked the border on Sept. 9 during a block party presented by the Downtown Area Revitalization Committee. Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source
Construction continues on 50 St. between 49 St. and 50 Ave.
The Downtown Area Revitalization Committee (DARC) sponsored events on Friday and Saturday to draw attention to the area featuring free live local music, food vendors, and sidewalk sales.
They want to remind people that although they can’t park quite as close as usual, the businesses in the area are still open and foot traffic is welcome, as indicated by fences and signage.
“Downtown revitalization is really important. Whether we have construction happening or not, and it takes a community to support and build that,” said Dawn Hames, owner of Dawn Interiors and Fashions.
“It takes the artists, the musicians, the shops and all of the creative vendors and crafters to come together. The farmers’ market, the bakers, create revitalization in our downtown and if we work together we can do it, and we can do it very well because we’re prairie people and we know how to make our own fun.”
Hames says it has been a rough five months for businesses in the area, and a couple of the newer businesses closed their doors.
She says the fact they have no drive-by traffic is part of the problem.
One of the local artists who performed on Saturday afternoon, Elnora Pittman, said she thinks it’s important to support the businesses downtown and help them push through until the construction wraps up.
“It’s already been difficult for them. Like when everybody moved to the west end, and then the pandemic, and now construction and access.”
“It’s really important to support our local businesses here,” said Pittman, prior to performing alongside her husband Pierre.
Although the construction is inconvenient, Cliff Rose for Clothes owner, Dave Schneider, says it’s necessary.
“We’re blessed that we have this parking lot and they can come park in the back. It’s not great for anybody … but it has to be done. We’ve been getting sewer smells for the last few years, and it’s just time,” said Schneider.
“Probably in the last 10 years I’ve spent $25,000, because we get a sewer smell once in a while, thinking it’s our store. They’ve jackhammered stuff out of my basement … the whole time, it’s the city,” said Schneider.
“When they come and they take their snake to find out what the problem is, well it would go to almost across the street before they find the problem.”
Schneider said although he’s cautiously optimistic the project will be finished as scheduled, it’s important it’s done properly so there’s no chance they’ll have to dig it up again.
“I just hope that they do it right, and that might take time. It’s a reality I guess.”
