BY WESLEY GARDNER
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“Business is starting to pick up a little bit, for sure, and I know the work the chambers are doing is absolutely helping.” DARON SKERO, SKERO’S FURNITURE & MATTRESS OWNER “We see exaggerated reports of the disruption of traffic patterns along Northpark [Drive] and some of those comments ... kind of overstate the disruption.” RAY HERNANDEZ, PARTNERSHIP LAKE HOUSTON PRESIDENT AND CEO
GEMCC President and CEO Mark Linabury said a major focus of the “Northpark Needs You” cam- paign is to drive in-person traffic back to stores and restaurants that rely on those customers. “You’re going to see more of your retail type businesses that are affected,” Linabury said. Linabury said the two chambers created a webpage—www.northpark.biz—containing a directory that allows visitors to view businesses most affected by roadwork. Additionally, Linabury said officials from each of the chambers will continue to post about affected businesses on their respective social media pages. Hernandez said the campaign is also aiming to help raise awareness of the broader effect that struggling businesses on Northpark Drive can have outside of the construction area. “Shoppers may choose to take their dollars to where they [are more easily spent], ... which can create long-term shifts to economic activity,” Hernandez said.
Funded by local taxing entity TIRZ 10, De Leon said the final phase of the project is expected to be substantially completed in 2030 . He noted several measures are currently being implemented to help ease the strain on area businesses. De Leon said construction crews have helped businesses by using quick-set concrete, which he said hardens more quickly than regular concrete. While De Leon noted much of the additional cost associated with quick-set concrete has been offset, he said it was too early to tell whether it will affect the overall cost of the project. Still, Linabury said he hopes the “Northpark Needs You” campaign extends beyond Kingwood residents. “I think the message is actually being received by people who might not have been shopping on Northpark,” he said.
“Consumers just change their normal habit patterns, and I don’t think they realize the effect that, that would have on the businesses.” MARK LINABURY, GREATER EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAMBER PRESIDENT AND CEO
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
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