ROARING FORK BROADCASTING COMPANY
While Basalt voters mull how to cast their ballots in the May 21 election over the Midland Avenue Streetscape Project, business owners are just trying to figure out how to survive.
About one dozen business representatives gathered at a “mastermind and business all hands meeting” organized by the Basalt Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. They were less concerned about politics and instead focused on finding ways to keep attracting customers while parts of the town’s main street are torn up throughout the summer and into fall.
“This is not about fixing the project, changing the project,” Kris Matera, chamber executive director, stressed at the start of the meeting. She said she wanted to hear how businesses are being affected by the project and collect suggestions on how to keep business flowing during what is likely Basalt’s biggest public works project ever. There was no lack of input.
Napaporn “Mod” Chanisri, co-owner of Mod’s Thai House, said construction fences must be erected in a way that people can still tell the businesses behind them are open. She also said signage would be helpful showing people where they could park and how to access the businesses via sidewalks.
She said she wasn’t concerned about her lunchtime business, which is mostly locals who have figured out how to navigate the construction zone. She is concerned about dinner guests who are coming from out of town and might be discouraged by the construction.
Chanisri said it will be vital for work to progress at the main intersection of town before summer business starts to ramp up on June 1. The intersection of Midland Spur and Midland Avenue is ground zero right now for the construction project as the contractor replaces underground utilities. Vehicle access to streets and parking on the northside of Midland Avenue is extremely restricted. The rough schedule for the project says that phase will be completed this spring before moving east on Midland. Town Manager Ryan Mahoney said transit through the area, known as the “knuckle,” should be improved prior to June 1.
Barbara Brett, owner of The Golden Bough, said it would be helpful if there was an “inviting environment” for walking along Midland Avenue during construction. In addition, she suggested the business community and town government join forces to establish a kiosk to help visitors find specific businesses and get directions on how to find them this summer. She cited the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s kiosk on Cooper Avenue as a good example.
Tracy Bennett, who has owned and operated Midland Shoe for 31 years, suggested that kids at local day care centers be enlisted to paint colorful wayfinding signs that would direct visitors from parking spaces on Midland Spur to the businesses on Midland Avenue.
Bennett also said the business community should focus on ways “to make it fun” to navigate through the construction area this summer. That could include an organized scavenger hunt at participating businesses and a special shopping night.
Jonathan Delk, CEO of JVAM Law, which includes a branch in Basalt, reinforced the idea of keeping an optimistic outlook for the summer and turning a challenge into a success story.
“We promote the heck out of Basalt being open,” he said. “Let’s go in with a sense of hope.”
Summer is Basalt’s bread-and-butter season, thanks to fly fishing on the Fryingpan River, water activities at Ruedi Reservoir and activity at the Roaring Fork Club. Business owners said Sundays are among the busiest days, in large part because of the Sunday Market, which will relocate back to Midland Spur this summer. The draw to the market also brings people to downtown shops and restaurants. The business owners stressed that information should be provided to visitors that downtown is open, with tips suggesting methods of access.
In the bigger picture, Chanisri wanted the chamber and businesses to collectively stress the message that construction isn’t that bad or disruptive. “That picture should be clear to everyone so they come to Basalt,” she said.
Mahoney said town government will renew the Midland Bucks program this summer. Coupons will be handed out to encourage people to shop, dine and seek services locally. Business owners redeem the coupons at Town Hall for payment.
Last year, $50,000 was budgeted for the program during the first phase of the streetscape project and slightly less was used, Mahoney said. This year, the coupon value was increased from $20 to $25. The program will fire up in June and continue through summer.
Mattera said after the meeting she was encouraged by the discussion and eager to pursue some of suggestions. The big message, she said, is for people to support local businesses this summer.
Wednesday’s meeting mostly avoided the politics of the May 21 election on the project.
Project foes collected enough signatures on an initiative petition to force ballot issue 1. The opponents want to pare down the budget for the project from $16.78 million to $11.5 million and they want to prevent parking spaces from being eliminated in the downtown core.
Businessman Warwick Mowbray brought up his concerns about the loss of parking at one point in the meeting on Wednesday. Less parking will lead to “reputational damage” for Basalt’s business community, he said. If customers, particularly the elderly ones, cannot park conveniently in front of core businesses, they might not return, he said.
“I just think it needs to be addressed,” Mowbray said.
Bennett, a former councilwoman, countered that walking a couple of blocks from Midland Spur should not present a hardship for visitors. Many of the people who come to Basalt pursue recreational activities, so walking a short distance shouldn’t put them out, she said.
“I think it’s so absurd, beyond absurd,” Bennett said.
The general theme at Wednesday’s meeting was that construction presents a challenge, but business owners are excited about the end product.
Town officials have touted the project as enhancing the pedestrian experience and calming traffic downtown. There will be better defined crosswalks, bike racks and places for the public to gather. The appearance also will be updated.
The town council voted 6-0 on April 23 to urge residents to vote no on the ballot item, the only question in the special election. Newly elected Councilman Rick Stevens wasn’t at the meeting.
In the election, a no vote allows the project to proceed as pursued by the town. A yes vote in the election would support the changes sought by the foes.
Ballots were mailed to Basalt residents and must be returned to the ballot box outside of town hall by 7 p.m. on May 21.