Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Downtown merchants tell Pensacola council Palafox 'reimagine' plan risks long-term business losses
Summary
Multiple downtown business owners told council that the Reimagine Palafox construction plan — a multi-month streetscape and drainage project — risks shuttering small businesses by reducing parking and causing prolonged closures. Speakers urged shorter timelines, alternative two-phase approaches or prioritizing repaving.
Small-business owners and downtown stakeholders pressed the council Oct. 23 to reconsider the Reimagine Palafox streetscape plan and the proposed construction timeline.
Mari Carmen Josephs, owner of Carmen's Lunch Bar, told the council a prolonged closure could be "the nail in the coffin" for businesses still recovering from pandemic-related declines and rising costs. "This street closure provides a very serious threat to many of our businesses that are already struggling," she said.
Multiple…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
