Nelsonville Bypass Opening - Short Term Economic Impact
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:15 am
Just my own observations and commentary about the bypass.
Well, it has been one year since the first leg of the bypass opened, and now 30 days since the entire bypass officially opened to traffic. Having been driving this stretch multiple times weekly for the last 13 years, the grand opening on October 1st was a day I was happy to see arrive. One, it is an absolutely beautiful stretch of road, the views are spectacular. Two, much safer, efficient, and faster, which everyone can appreciate.
There was concern expressed about the impact on local business once the high volume of traffic was no longer forced through the bottleneck known as Canal Street. Well, I waited until last night to drive the entire stretch of old 33 on my way home, jumping off the freeway at Haydenville. Of course, the first thing I saw was that Dee's Diner was shuttered. Don't ever recall seeing anything in the local paper about it closing, but I figured it would not survive, just too hard to get to now.
Very little traffic on old 33 until I got to Nelsonville, but the volume picked up some once I got past the Dorr run roundabout. The gambling parlors on the west end are still thriving, which surprised me. I thought they were illegal now and would have been closed. I got to McDonalds before I saw my first potential casualty of the bypass. Tink's used car lot was cleared, and Tink and a woman were emptying the office. Got down to the intersection with old Rt. 78 and the BP has closed. Another block down, Hocking Valley Motor Company has pulled up stakes and moved to Athens, but I believe they did so a week or so before the bypass fully opened.
So, as folks said prior to the opening of the bypass, businesses will be affected, and they have been. Those that want to survive are going to have to adjust, and as they do, things will improve. I don't see Nelsonville becoming a ghost town, I see it as a town that will survive and prosper with businesses that people view as a "destination". Give them a reason to get off the bypass and patronize your business, and they will. Those that have nothing special to offer, on the other hand, will struggle, such as gas stations and the fast food restaurants. That said, I'm not sure if the shuttered Dairy Queen will ever get sold, especially at the original asking price of $875,000. :122246
It is going to be a period of adjustment for the local business owners, but eventually, I believe things will improve, especially with businesses that are innovative and have something different to offer. Just my two cents. Would be interested to hear other folks thoughts as well.
Well, it has been one year since the first leg of the bypass opened, and now 30 days since the entire bypass officially opened to traffic. Having been driving this stretch multiple times weekly for the last 13 years, the grand opening on October 1st was a day I was happy to see arrive. One, it is an absolutely beautiful stretch of road, the views are spectacular. Two, much safer, efficient, and faster, which everyone can appreciate.
There was concern expressed about the impact on local business once the high volume of traffic was no longer forced through the bottleneck known as Canal Street. Well, I waited until last night to drive the entire stretch of old 33 on my way home, jumping off the freeway at Haydenville. Of course, the first thing I saw was that Dee's Diner was shuttered. Don't ever recall seeing anything in the local paper about it closing, but I figured it would not survive, just too hard to get to now.
Very little traffic on old 33 until I got to Nelsonville, but the volume picked up some once I got past the Dorr run roundabout. The gambling parlors on the west end are still thriving, which surprised me. I thought they were illegal now and would have been closed. I got to McDonalds before I saw my first potential casualty of the bypass. Tink's used car lot was cleared, and Tink and a woman were emptying the office. Got down to the intersection with old Rt. 78 and the BP has closed. Another block down, Hocking Valley Motor Company has pulled up stakes and moved to Athens, but I believe they did so a week or so before the bypass fully opened.
So, as folks said prior to the opening of the bypass, businesses will be affected, and they have been. Those that want to survive are going to have to adjust, and as they do, things will improve. I don't see Nelsonville becoming a ghost town, I see it as a town that will survive and prosper with businesses that people view as a "destination". Give them a reason to get off the bypass and patronize your business, and they will. Those that have nothing special to offer, on the other hand, will struggle, such as gas stations and the fast food restaurants. That said, I'm not sure if the shuttered Dairy Queen will ever get sold, especially at the original asking price of $875,000. :122246
It is going to be a period of adjustment for the local business owners, but eventually, I believe things will improve, especially with businesses that are innovative and have something different to offer. Just my two cents. Would be interested to hear other folks thoughts as well.