“This project will shut down Eastown and make it a ghost town.”
At an October public hearing Shauna Bouwkamp, who owns the building that’s home to Billies Lounge and Mulligans Pub said Eastown businesses need street parking for their customers.
“It’s ridiculous to take the easy access customer parking on Wealthy away from the businesses.”
As part of a street redesign the city planned to replace some parking spots on Wealthy with bike lanes. Speaking for nearly three-dozen businesses, Yesterdog co-owner Lisa Rapoport called the plan a disaster.
“Would have disastrous effects on all businesses in this corridor.”
But Laura Cesa with Strong Towns Grand Rapids says businesses could see profits increase if bike lanes replaced parking spaces.
“Bike lanes are great for business. A study found half of these people spend more than 100 dollars per month at local businesses where only about a third of visitors who drive will spend that much.”
At the hearing businessman Mark Secchia suggested “pumping the brakes” on the project, and the city is now pausing the plan pending more community input.
“I support bike lanes but, in this situation, removing about 40 to 50 parking spots maybe pump the brakes and be more inclusive of businesses and not just bikers.”
