January 16th, 2020 by WCBC Radio
With a planned groundbreaking this summer- and a projected 18 month construction schedule to complete the project- some downtown business owners are understandably concerned with what could prove to be major inconveniences for shoppers during the next two years. Access to and from stores and restaurants on the mall as well as parking issues that could result during the construction phase have been mentioned by a number of business owner’s downtown. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss tells WCBC News that the city, the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation and the Downtown Development Commission are all working to mitigate the potential problems…
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January 16, 2020 at 5:44 am, Mark said:
This stupidity will just help kill what few businesses are left. And any ‘outdoor dining’ in the middle of a construction site? lol Good bye downtown restaurants.
January 16, 2020 at 8:51 am, Lav said:
> Outdoor dining will be ruined anyway, once the renovations are done and cars are allowed on Baltimore Street. Who wants to sit outside eating food mixed with car exhaust? yummy.
January 16, 2020 at 10:23 pm, Jay said:
Have you ever been to West Street in Annapolis?
January 16, 2020 at 7:52 am, mac said:
Unless the CEDC and CDC will give some concrete explanations of how to negotiate the construction our family will no longer frequent the restaurants that we enjoy on the mall. I don’t want to be blindsided by construction barriers and/or debris.
We have always tried to patronize and support the Baltimore Street Grill and City Lights but that will be put on hold for 18 months once the whole process begins.
January 16, 2020 at 8:00 am, Ken said:
Mark my words.. this will be the death of any local business downtown. It’ll go down as the CEDC & DDC’s folly. In 15 years we will be discussing how this destruction was the last final blow to our community.
January 16, 2020 at 10:30 pm, Jay said:
Securing the funds to fix the underground utilities and to open up the street with one-lane traffic is not a terrible idea, given the fact that Baltimore Street is mostly vacated store fronts and a gathering place for indigents anyway. It’s not like the pedestrian mall has been a rousing economic success. I just don’t see the renovation as a means to get more businesses downtown. The area has been dying for well over 3 decades due to population loss and a dimensioning tax base. The CC Mall is on its last legs as well. And actually, I’m still not convinced that this project will happen the way they say it will. I understand that the full funding is not in place and I predict it will take longer than 18 month and will cost more than 9.4 mil.
January 16, 2020 at 12:05 pm, Steve said:
The CEDC is bad news…..EVEYONE will see.
January 16, 2020 at 12:21 pm, Ken said:
Paul Kelly and Matt Miller will lead this whole county into destruction. We think we are dying now, just wait till they takeover the whole county.