$2M Streetscape project holds hope for growth

Fairborn businesses say new look should attract more customers.

FAIRBORN — The city of Fairborn’s $2 million downtown Streetscape project is nearly halfway finished, and downtown business owners are hoping the new look will attract more customers to Main Street.

Despite issues such as dust build-up and sidewalk construction, the impact the project has had on businesses has been minimal, said Linda Riffle, president of the Downtown Fairborn Betterment Association.

“When they tore up the sidewalks, that’s when it started to affect the businesses,” Riffle said. “People don’t know quite where to walk. For the most part, it’s been good. It’s the most organized project I’ve ever seen.”

City Engineer Jim Sawyer said earlier this week Streetscape is three days ahead of schedule, about 40 percent complete and traffic has been maintained throughout.

The project — which began in April — still is expected to be done by early September, just in time for the Air Force Marathon on Sept. 15.

“We have the support of all the businesses down there,” Sawyer said. “We’ve had very few complaints. We’ve gotten a lot of compliments on the work, the speed and the nature of the crews. We want to thank the businesses for their patience, cooperation and support.”

About $750,000 of the project is funded by grants, including a pair of $300,000 grants from the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. The remaining balance will be paid for out of different city funds, such as street paving and capital improvement.

Sewer, curb, sidewalk and brick paver work on the south side of Main Street has been completed, and identical work has started on the north side.

The repaving of the road is scheduled to begin in mid-August, Sawyer said.

“The weather is really helping us out in getting the work done,” he said. “But I will add, regardless of the weather, L.J. DeWeese has done a superior job maintaining traffic and helping businesses and patrons while getting their work done.”

Riffle said that of the 88 commercial spaces downtown, about 90 percent of them are occupied.

Her hope is that the improvements downtown will attract new businesses to fill the vacant spaces as well as give the image of a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere along Main Street.

Joann Scott — owner of Expressions Coffee House at 313 W. Main St. — said her business has seen a 20 percent dip in sales since construction began.

Expressions Coffee House was averaging about 160 to 170 individual purchases per day, but now that figure has dropped between 120 and 130. Scott cited the dust and heat as the two major factors.

“The business we’ve lost are the people pushing babies in strollers, walking dogs, riding bikes,” Scott said. “The regulars are still coming, but it’s the street traffic where I’ve lost 20 percent of my business.

“Overall, it’s going to be a good thing when it’s done, and I think we’ll gain those (customers) back and even more.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2281 or smatthews@coxohio.com. Follow this reporter on Twitter @StevenWMatthews

About the Author