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Douglas merchants urge pause and pilot for G Avenue streetscape; council schedules informational session
Summary
More than 300 merchants and residents petitioned the City of Douglas to pause the funded G Avenue streetscape project and test a reversible 3–6 month pilot block, citing concerns about parking, customer access and outreach; council directed staff to hold an informational session to present details and next steps.
Merchants and residents told the Douglas Mayor and Council on Feb. 11 that a planned G Avenue streetscape project needs more local testing and clearer outreach before permanent work begins.
"We are not saying no but offering a better approach," said Ida Pedrego, owner of Illusions Boutique and lead organizer of a petition signed by more than 300 people, who asked the council to pilot a single block for three to six months using paint, planters and removable bollards to measure impacts on traffic, parking utilization and business revenue.
The petitioners said the city's outreach relied too heavily on social media surveys and did not reach Spanish-speakers and business owners who prefer in-person conversation. Lawana Diffie, a longtime computer shop owner, warned that rising supplier tariffs and reduced vehicle access during construction could compound financial strain for small businesses operating on narrow margins.
Council members were split. Council Member Richard C. Acosta and Council Member Jose Montaño argued delays risk further business closures and said past studies and secured funding make progress urgent. "If we sit on this, we risk losing more businesses and grant momentum," Montaño said. Council Member Maria Dillman and Council Member Gustavo Durazo Jr. stressed safety and the need to coordinate downtown improvements with larger projects such as the commercial port.
City Manager Ana Urquijo told the council the streetscape concept evolved from 2008 and 2011 studies into a J2 hybrid design after public input and that the project is funded with a $2.9 million grant plus a $1.3 million local match; she warned federal grant rules require timely use of funds.
After extended public comment and council discussion, Mayor Jose Grijalva directed staff to organize an informational session that will cover the streetscape engineering details, historic preservation, environmental cleanup, construction accommodations for merchants and potential tax incentives. Staff confirmed they could host the session and provide more in-person outreach to bilingual business owners.
The meeting ended with the petition formally acknowledged and the council committing to an educational public meeting before further irreversible construction steps are taken.
