‘Desperate for relief’: Arts District businesses seek help amid construction

Business owners in the downtown Arts District are asking the city of Las Vegas for help due to construction on Charleston Boulevard that has seriously hampered traffic to their storefronts.

In a letter obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, multiple business owners are asking for “interim solutions,” saying the construction has caused a significant decrease in foot traffic. The letter was sent to Las Vegas City Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, who governs the Arts District, and City Manager Mike Janssen on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, respectively.

The letter, penned by Gary Conrad, owner of Conrad West Gallery, said foot traffic to his business has decreased by nearly 90 percent.

“The Arts District business owners are desperate for relief,” said the letter. “The ongoing impact of this project simply cannot be overstated.”

The letter suggested four temporary remedies during construction:

— Increase construction hours from six to seven hours a day to 24 hours a day.

— Suspend parking enforcement and expand free parking access for business owners and employees.

— Suspend monthly sales and use tax payments, business license renewal fees and other city fees until project completion. Additionally, “offer extended payment terms for businesses who have defaulted on payments due to significant financial disruption,” the letter said.

— Designate a liaison from the city for business owners in the area.

The construction is part of the $49 million “Charleston Storm Drain” project funded by the Clark County Regional Flood Control District, Regional Transportation Commission and the city of Las Vegas.

According to the city, the box culverts have been put in place and are now in the final phase of repaving, with access from Charleston to southbound Commerce Street reopening Nov. 20.

“The city has worked to keep access open and to remind residents and visitors to frequent the businesses there,” the city said in a statement to the Review-Journal. “The city understands that this project has been difficult for businesses in the Arts District, but when complete it should help alleviate some of the flooding.”

Claire Conrad, co-owner of Conrad West Gallery alongside her husband, said the gallery saw 1,500 visitors last October. This October, it saw 150.

“They are not in a rush to get this job done,” Claire Conrad said. “They should be working seven days a week and 24 hours a day to get that road opened because they are hurting all of the merchants down here.”

Johnny Jimenez, owner of One of Us Comics on Commerce Street and The Toy Shack in Neonopolis, said he is doing 10 percent of the business he would normally do before construction. In front of his business is a “huge trench” and the sidewalk is “completely demolished,” he said.

“This is cutting into our busy season,” Jimenez said. “Hopefully we can reopen after Nov. 20 if they can meet that deadline.”

Jimenez said it takes customers 20 to 30 minutes longer to find his storefront. Across the street at Artistic Iron Works, they are having the same issues.

“It looks like we’re closed,” said owner Tina Spruell. “I had a group of senior ladies come over yesterday, they didn’t even know I had a parking lot.”

Contact Emerson Drewes at [email protected]. Follow @EmersonDrewes on X.