JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Business owners on Jacksonville’s Northside worry that road improvements on North Main Street could hurt business.
The Florida Department of Transportation wants to construct new sections of media and turn lanes, eliminating two dozen on-street parking spots.
“My customers need parking space, I need parking space,” Shantel Jones said. She moved Windows of Heaven Income Tax Inc. to North Main less than a year ago partly because of plentiful parking in the area and worries FDOT’s project will do more harm than good.
“That will probably hinder our business a little bit without any parking space,” she told Action News Jax.
According to FDOT, the changes will enhance traffic flow and improve safety. If adopted, the changes would be included as part of the Main Street resurfacing project.
Jones admits resurfacing could be a good thing—it would fill potholes and smooth out the road, but parking remains her number one concern. “Where would we park at, though? Where would we have to park? We wouldn’t have anywhere to park. So I don’t know, it might be good, it might not be good, but we’ll see,” she said.
Action News Jax reached out to FDOT for more details about the project like when it would start and end. A spokesperson said he’s working on our request and will be getting back to us.
FDOT plans to meet Thursday, March 10 about the proposed improvements. The meeting will be at its Urban Office Training Center at 2198 Edison Ave. An open house starts at 4:30 p.m., followed by public comments at 6 p.m.
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