ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Construction along North Orange Avenue in Orlando\u2019s Ivanhoe Village has been ongoing for a while, and local business owners say the disruption has taken a toll.<\/p>\n
The Florida Department of Transportation\u2019s (FDOT) most recent project made safety improvements to the corridor from Magnolia Avenue to north of Rollins Street. <\/p>\n
The $5.5 million project reconfigured part of the road, added on-street parking, flashing pedestrian beacons and raised intersections. Some curbs were extended, and floating islands were added to define on-street parking areas.<\/p>\n
But for business owners on the street, the changes have come at a cost.<\/p>\n
Wain Sharewood, owner of Kut Shave Steam, said he has seen a noticeable drop in customers, one he links to the constant construction on the street.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s slowed down the traffic that bad where I lost two barbers,\u201d Sharewood said.<\/p>\n
Sharewood said the parking situation has made things especially difficult for new and returning customers. While the project added some on-street parking spaces, others were removed \u2014 including spaces near the barbershop that Sharewood said customers relied on.<\/p>\n
\u201cA new client shows up, and they get disheartened and drive away,\u201d he said. \u201cSome find parking half a block away, and they walk back. It\u2019s very frustrating and disheartening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sharewood is not alone. The owner of The Greek Corner said road closures and detours have hit her hard as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tell the people, please open the street because I can\u2019t pay the bills,\u201d owner of The Greek Corner, Theoni Tsafonias, told News 6.<\/p>\n
As the project nears completion, both owners are hopeful that business will begin to bounce back. Sharewood acknowledged that some of the changes do make sense for a growing community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say in one sense, yes, the community has grown, you know, so therefore you need pedestrian crossings. That\u2019s effective. We love that,\u201d Sharewood said. \u201cBut the parking zone where they put the parking is not doing us any justice, business-wise.\u201d<\/p>\n