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05_V1_WAT_Nov02 Thursday, November 2, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 5Serving your community since 1856 By Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Staff The legitimacy of a vote taken by the UpTown Waterloo Business Improve-ment Area is being questioned with only 27 per cent of those eligible responding, and the board using the thin majority to say they are in favour of proceeding with streetscape construc- tion work. Andy Brast, who has owned Carry-On Com- ics in the core for the last 26 years, said that small turnout doesn't represent the true feelings of most businesses who want to see construc- tion take a breather for a least a year to reestab- lish normal traffic patterns and allow customers freer access to uptown merchants. "The best analogy I can use is that of an Olympic swimmer," said Brast. "He takes a few strokes and he comes up for a breath, he takes a few more strokes and comes up for a breath. "Anyone who tries to swim the whole race underwater drowns. We're drowning." He said the BIA survey was sent out by email and was easy to miss -- he almost missed replying himself. The importance of that response wasn't stressed enough, and if it was, he thinks more than 27 per cent would have responded with the thin majority to carry on construction. "Uptown Waterloo needs to take a breath," said Brast. "We need the people to come back and have a chance to know where we are. "That's been taken away by this new three- year plan." Last week the UpTown Waterloo BIA board of directors reported that its membership had voted 54 per cent in favour of continuing with streetscape construction that has shut down King Street from Bridgeport Road to Erb Street since April. The only asterisk on that statement was the low response rate of 27 per cent. The UpTown Waterloo board said it support- ed the vote with certain conditions, including to make sure future work would be down with increased speed and efficiency, and that the concerns of business affected be heard. The UpTown Waterloo BIA board of direc- tors said it will be asking the region for: • A seat at the table at key meetings to ensure that the best interests of our Uptown Waterloo businesses are being prioritized. • A review of the tender contract before it is sent out for Request for Proposals on the next three construction projects. The UpTown Waterloo BIA board of directors will hire a qual- ified third-party civil engineer to review. • Bi-weekly accountability meetings with the construction team to make sure goals are being met. • A priority on extended construction hours to accelerate the work, such as work on week- ends and evenings. • Erb Street running two-way while Bridge- port is closed. • The Region to appoint a dedicated commu- nications staff member to work on the ground with the UpTown Waterloo BIA and businesses. The UpTown Waterloo BIA board of direc- tors said it needs to see an increase in both transparency and better leadership as construc- tion continues over the next three years for the project slated to finish by 2020. The board said it stands by the business being impacted by the construction, but contin- ues to support the streetscape project. Uptown Coun. Melissa Durrell sits on the BIA board and was recently pushing a Let Uptown Breathe campaign to suspend con- struction work for 2018 along King Street. She also had concerns about the low participation rate for the vote but you have to respect the will of the majority of those who voted. "You've got to respect democracy," said Dur- rell. "But the margin of error with that small a vote is probably closer to 50/50." Durrell said that when she talked to busi- nesses they really want a construction break, and they're suffering from construction exhaus- tion. If the work does proceed for another three years that means there will be road closures along King Street in the uptown for a total of six consecutive years, and it does bode well for the future of the core. "Apathy plays a big role in whether people voted or not," said Durrell. "People are exhaust- ed by the construction, and whether we con- tinue it or wait for a year it makes no difference to them now, they just want it to be done." One thing she's sure of -- the louder the businesses complain about the lack of progress the more progress is made on completing the project. "The louder we scream the faster the con- struction guys seem to be working," said Dur- rell. "Some of us will continue to make the region listen to us and put their feet to the fire and hopefully get it done." 85 BRIDGEPORT RD. E. WATERLOO (Across from the Bridgeport Rd. Plaza) Since 1971 519-893-8118 MON., TUES., WED. 10 AM - 6 PM THURS., FRI. 10 AM - 8 PM SATURDAY 9 AM - 5 PM SUNDAY 12 PM - 4 PM Furniture & Mattresses Since 1971 LOFTY IDEAS FOr SMALL SPACES NEED HELP DOWNSIZING? DISCOvEr Our CLASSIC, CONTEMPOrArY AND TrANSITIONAL STYLES FOr ANY SIZE SPACE Business owner disputes BIA vote to let construction proceed File Photo An uptown business said a recent vote to continue construction on the King Street streetscape project wasn't representative of all the businesses affected by the project.