Editor:
My wife Wendy and I own Health Express on Johnston Road. I have to write this in order to make people aware and also to point out what may not be obvious.
The impact of the Oceana PARC highrise being built beside us has had devastating effects on our business. Combined with the city’s “revitalization of Johnston Road,” it is borderline catastrophic.
My question is this, why is compensation for the merchants not built into the cost of infrastructure improvements? Fact is, the three hardest hit businesses in all of this is Adib’s, Transat Travel and, of course, Health Express. The businesses on the west side of the road experience a few months of inconvenience and pain, while we experience well over a year and a half.
Some for the problems are caused by the new construction and significantly more for the street work.
This is my suggested compensation:
• $3,000 per month x three businesses x 18 months = $162,000, east side of Johnston
• $3,000 per month x four businesses x three months = $36,000, west side of Johnston
Total suggested remuneration: $198,000.
Population of White Rock is pretty much 20,000; the cost would be about $10 per person.
My losses far surpass that number, and all of us are affected differently, but this example is simply to show we could have had support of some sort for what I think is a drop in the bucket.
I think the community would even be willing to pay $20 per person and we could recoup some of the tremendous losses we have endured. In the grand scheme of things, the amount being spent compared to the amount it would take to aid our survival is minuscule
Not one customer comes in the store without commenting how come we are not being compensated by the city or the developer.
All we ever asked for is something to say they are sorry for this incredible amount of pain and suffering caused by growth and improvements. Why don’t we start a precedent, as I would fully support helping fellow business owners get through this type of project? Especially at such minimum costs per person.
This is my opinion, but I feel people should know what goes on behind the scenes.
Rick Falls, White Rock
