San Antonio’s Construction Challenges: Business Owners Cry for Better Communication
Ah, San Antonio! Known for its spectacular River Walk, delicious Tex-Mex, and, of course, its infamous construction zones. If you’ve ever tried to navigate the streets during a busy day, you know exactly what we mean. Unfortunately, a recent city audit shows that construction headaches are still plaguing local business owners, leading to a frustrating financial strain on their operations.
The Unyielding Presence of Orange Cones
Just ask Aaron Peña, a business owner in Southtown. With a laugh, he says, “Orange cones just follow me.” Over the past few years, he’s been dealing with constant construction disruptions that have forced him to make tough decisions. “I had to shut down a business on the St. Mary’s Strip solely because of construction issues,” Peña recalls. Now, an impromptu detour brings those pesky cones to his current establishments, Gimme Gimme and Amor Eterno.
For Peña and countless other owners, the aftermath of these construction projects is stark. “The consequences of that [are] obviously losing money, not being able to pay staff, and rent, and overhead,” he shared, reflecting on the negative impact on his bottom line.
City Audit Reveals Communication Gaps
To make sense of these ongoing issues, the City’s Audit Committee took a hard look at the communication surrounding construction projects. The audit, which assessed activities from October 2022 through May 2024, found that while communication is “adequate and timely” for short-term projects, the story changes for long-term endeavors. Many business owners reported receiving inconsistent updates, leaving them feeling out of the loop.
With a total of 14 long-term projects examined, the report stated that methods of communication varied based on delivery channels—social media, emails, newspaper postings, mailers, and even door hangers were all employed. While Peña agrees these points about long-term inconsistencies are accurate, he feels that the classification of short-term communications as “adequate” is far too generous. “Adequate is the bare minimum,” he argued. “It should mean coming into my place of business and seeing how we’re getting by during these closures and delays.”
Council Members See the Bigger Picture
During a recent audit meeting, council members echoed Peña’s sentiments. Councilman Whyte emphasized the importance of better communication, stating, “We hear from business owners every day that communication is not adequate.” It’s a message that reflects a larger issue that city officials are eager to tackle.
Steps Towards Improvement
But what exactly is being done about it? Public Works has committed to addressing these issues and has laid out some plans for improvement. Director Razi Hosseini mentioned that they do attempt to establish direct lines of communication by collecting phone numbers and emails from business owners. Yet he admits, “Sometimes the challenge is the business owner has too many people, and the individual we communicate with may not be him or herself.”
Hosseini recognizes the gap and expressed that they understand the need for better communication, stating, “We need to improve communication every day, every week, every month.” However, some lingering doubts emerged during the audit; notably, the auditors did not consult any business owners directly when compiling their report, which led to further frustration.
Conclusion: The Push for Involvement
As San Antonio continues to navigate its construction woes, one truth stands out: business owners want to be part of the conversation. “We just need to be involved in the conversation,” Peña lamented. For these hardworking individuals, it’s not just about avoiding orange cones; it’s about ensuring their businesses can thrive despite the infrastructure challenges.
As the city takes steps toward improvement, let’s hope for smoother roads ahead—literally and figuratively!
