RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Mon Macaroon was getting ready for the afternoon, but owner Autumn Hicks said there was no guarantee they would get the business they needed.
“Traffic isn’t coming from restaurants here like it used to. It’s tough,” she said.
She said the $300 million development of Seaboard Station was to blame. There are massive plans underway here to build street level retail, apartments, a hotel and car parks, but limited parking has devastated her business for the past six months.
“We have team members who drive 15 or 20 minutes trying to find a parking space. These are technically two-hour parking spaces. I have members who work here for eight hours. We don’t want them to get a parking ticket,” said Hicks.
This is an active construction site and there are ongoing efforts to move the project forward. Over the past few months, employees have reported their tires and congestion.
Other business owners, such as Michel Bell of Hunky Dory, said they were unable to get a response from the council. It’s costing him dearly, and he’s doing everything in his power to drive the business forward.
“I contacted the mayor’s office. I’m on an email chain with the developer and the city. Haven’t heard anything,” Bell said. “We offer free dollar records for those who make the effort to come here. We’re sorry about the parking. There’s nothing we can do about it. Thank you for coming. This is a dollar record.” It will be great in the future, but it’s really bad right now . “
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