A city council vote Tuesday, Nov. 17, could signal the sedation of business in downtown Wilmington during an 8-month makeover of Front Street between Market and Chestnut Street scheduled to begin January 2010.

City officials and downtown businesses agree that these renovations will revitalize the district. But the timing has drawn a backlash from business owners who contend the project will be undertaken at a time when they are barely staying afloat under the weight of a down economy.

Business owners have expressed concern that the construction will hamper patrons’ ability to reach their establishments, resulting in a period of poor sales from which it will be difficult—if not impossible—to recover.

The city seems to be caught between a rock and a hard place. The water and sewer pipes—which are 100-years old in some places and at risk of rupturing—represent a serious public safety issue.

Eric Rylander, the owner of Marzini Restaurants, LCC, which maintains three establishments in the downtown district including Fat Tony’s Italian Pub and Orton’s Pool Room, was joined by other business owners in the 100 block asking city council at its mid-November meeting to consider some alternatives.

Those included delaying the project for a year, delaying the project in the 100 block or completing only the sewer and water pipe improvements.

Rylander said restaurants are already suffering, a fact that is about to be compounded by a statewide smoking ban taking effect in January. He said he fears the Front Street project will be "the straw that breaks the camel’s back."

To shrink the impact, the city will post temporary signage to keep the public aware that businesses are still open, install temporary walkways to store fronts and stipulate that only one block of Front Street and one intersection be closed at a time.

Project plans call for the installation of brick crosswalks at intersections and mid-blocks; curb and sidewalk replacement; additional motorcycle and bicycle parking; upgrades to street-lighting and intersections; tree and shrub replacement; and site furnishing like benches, bicycle racks and waste receptacles.

Parking meters will also be replaced with pay stations.

The project will be separated into three stages, starting at Market and working through the 00 block of Front Street; Princess thru the 100 block; and finally the Chestnut Street intersection.

City officials anticipate a 3-month vehicular traffic closure per block. The $1.8 million contract was awarded to T A Loving of Goldsboro, N.C. Construction is required to end by July 30, 2010.