News Summary
The Great Streets BTV project in Burlington is significantly impacting local businesses on Main Street, leading to closures and decreased foot traffic. Construction is expected to complete in 2026, but many business owners report revenue declines between 20% and 50%. Efforts from the city to support local enterprises are underway, yet entrepreneurs express a continued need for more substantial assistance as they navigate these challenging transitions.
Burlington is experiencing significant upheaval as the Great Streets BTV project, which commenced construction on Main Street in February 2024, has left many local business owners struggling to maintain operations amidst ongoing disruptions. The ambitious project aims to enhance the downtown area by creating wider sidewalks, more flexible outdoor spaces, and improving water collection facilities, all intended to foster a more walkable and vibrant environment. However, the construction, which is set to wrap up in November 2026, has resulted in a notable decline in customer foot traffic, creating challenges for the businesses that line Main Street.
According to reports from various business owners, the construction work has drastically reduced the number of customers visiting their establishments. This downturn has led to businesses like Nectar’s and The Gryphon announcing permanent closures, indicating the severity of the situation. Additionally, Honey Road has faced challenges in setting up outdoor seating due to ongoing work, further impacting their sales figures. Other businesses, such as Burlington Wine Shop, have been forced to adapt by concentrating more on email marketing strategies to compensate for the drop in walk-in customers.
In response to the growing concerns from local business owners, the Burlington Department of Public Works (DPW) has taken steps to address the disruptions. This includes hiring a public involvement coordinator to facilitate communication with merchants and keep them informed about construction developments. The DPW has also undertaken water line replacements at no cost to property owners and has provided parking promotions to encourage visitors despite the ongoing work.
The challenges faced by business owners have now drawn significant attention, with nearly 100 local entrepreneurs attending a city hall meeting to voice their frustrations over lost revenues. Many fear that without immediate support or changes to construction strategies, their businesses may not survive until the project’s completion. Reports indicate that some establishments are experiencing sales drops ranging from 20% to 50% since construction began. To cope, several businesses have reduced staffing levels and cut back on hours of operation, further emphasizing the strain they are under during this construction period.
The city has acknowledged the impact of this extensive construction project, which has faced multiple delays, pushing deadlines further into 2027. Proposed solutions, such as implementing one-way traffic on Main Street, were found to be too costly, which has left businesses seeking more effective support measures from city officials. In an effort to address these challenges, the city has implemented initiatives to boost local advertising and created a loan fund to assist businesses affected by the ongoing disruption.
Despite these efforts, local business owners continue to express the need for more substantial and meaningful support as the construction progresses. The city remains committed to ongoing marketing campaigns aimed at attracting customers back to the downtown area, understanding that the reputation and viability of these businesses are crucial to the neighborhood’s future. While some parts of the construction process, including the expansion of concrete sidewalks designed for outdoor seating, have already been completed, business owners remain hopeful that better coordination and increased assistance will emerge to help them navigate the challenges posed by this expansive development.
Overall, the Great Streets BTV project represents a significant long-term initiative to upgrade infrastructure and address the redevelopment of deteriorating properties in Burlington. While the anticipated benefits of a more dynamic downtown are clear, the immediate fallout for local businesses underscores the need for ongoing dialogue and support during this challenging transition period.
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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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CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
