Feature Story

By Sydney Fagen

Contributing writer

Construction on Florida Street in midtown Mobile is creating quite a stir among some local businesses who think the project could drive away customers.

The Florida Street Drainage Improvement Project is aimed at improving the storm drain capacity on Florida Street and in the surrounding neighborhoods, an area prone to flooding. However, businesses in the area have raised complaints to the city regarding misleading signs, loss of business and the potential hazards the site poses to customers.

The goal of the project is to increase the capacity of the outfall system.

“We don’t have a ditch on Florida Street, so we’re building one underground called a box culvert,” District 5 Councilman Reggie Copeland explained.

The box culvert is essentially an underground drainage tunnel that will join with the present output system along the IC Railroad behind Ruby Tuesday’s on Dauphin Street, city engineers said. The culvert is roughly 10’ wide by 6’ tall and is projected to double the current output capacity and relieve flooding in the area. The water will be routed underground through the culvert where it will then be diverted to nearby Eslava Creek.

The project is divided into three phases, which will allow for certain sections of the street to be open while others are closed for construction, Copeland explained. The first phase includes the section of Florida Street between Mount Island Drive and Ralston Road. The second phase includes the section from Ralston Road to Emogene Street, while the third phase encompasses the section between Emogene and the railroad tracks that run parallel to Dauphin Street.

The cost of the project as projected by the city is $3.8 million, which is coming out of the city’s Capital Improvement Bond Program. In 2006 representatives to the city council agreed to take out a $26 million bond for capital improvement projects in all districts of the city.

According to city engineers, the project is scheduled to be completed by March 2008, unless there are unforeseen delays due to weather. But for some area businesses, five months is too long to wait.

Hal Metzger, owner of The Whistle Stop Café, is one of many irate business owners along Florida Street. Initially Metzger and his peers heard about the project at a meeting with city engineers and Copeland in 2002, though the project did not get underway until 2007.

Metzger’s key concern was misinformation about the detour route around the construction. Metzger says information put out by local media led people to believe Florida Street and the businesses on the street were completely inaccessible.

“What they’re saying on the news is misleading,” Metzger said.

Metzger also noted the signs diverting traffic to the detour were ambiguous. “The sign placement doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Metzger raised these concerns to Bill Metzger (no relation), the city’s traffic engineer. Since these complaints were made, the detour has been re-routed.

“We don’t detour you until Emogene, which allows more people to get to the businesses,” explained Bill Metzger. The city has also posted signs to let drivers know businesses in the area around the construction site are still open.

The detour itself has also been the cause for many complaints. Under normal circumstances the section of Florida Street between Airport Boulevard and Dauphin Street is trafficked by 15,000 cars daily. During renovation of the drainage system, these cars are being re-routed to Sage Avenue, which is currently used by 14,000 cars each day.

While Hal Metzger agrees the renovation is necessary, he still fears the effect it will have on his business.

“Everybody’s going to benefit,” Metzger noted. “It’s just how the project is going out.”

Hal Metzger has received phone calls from customers trying to verify if his restaurant is open at this point in the project.

“It’s put a dent in business for sure,” he explained.

Tracy Nelson, owner of the Silverhorse Pub at the intersection of Florida and Emogene Streets is in agreement with Hal Metzger.

“It’s a project that has to be done,” Nelson said, “the city just needs to protect the businesses.”

Nelson’s main fear is the possible loss of parking in front of his business. Parking for the Silverhorse Pub lies directly in front of the establishment. Once the second phase of the project begins and that section of the road is closed off, customers will have to park their cars elsewhere and walk to the building.

Another concern of Nelson’s is losing the business of walk-ins.

“We’re a neighborhood pub, so our regulars will keep coming,” he explained. However, the ability for visitors to find the pub once the project has progressed further is uncertain.

Nelson also expressed anxiety over the safety of his customers. The box culvert is being constructed deep below ground, 22 feet at its deepest point. Nelson fears the accidents that may result if the construction site is not thoroughly barricaded.

“There are three bars in the building and Crockmier’s across the street. I’m worried about my customers driving their cars into an 18-foot hole,” Nelson explained.

City officials have promised to continue working with these businesses throughout the remainder of the project.

“We’re trying to satisfy them as much as possible, but it’s a long project,” Bill Metzger explained.

Some business owners are still unsure. The fate of these local businesses as well as the success of the project remains to be seen in the coming months. Nelson captured the feelings of several of his fellow business owners.

“I’m still just waiting to see what happens,” he said.

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