Businesses want Grand Avenue redevelopment plan changed, city says it's too late

March 5, 2026 - 11:43

A coalition of local businesses is making a last-ditch effort to alter the approved redevelopment plan for Grand Avenue, arguing the current blueprint will harm their operations and the district's character. However, city officials have stated unequivocally that the window for significant changes has closed, setting the stage for a tense standoff.

The business group, comprised of long-standing shops and restaurants, contends that the plan's focus on new, large-scale mixed-use buildings will drive up rents, eliminate crucial parking, and disrupt the pedestrian-friendly atmosphere that defines the avenue. They are urging the city to reconsider elements related to building scale, traffic flow, and affordability provisions for existing tenants.

In response, city planners and council members emphasize that the plan is the result of a multi-year public process with numerous opportunities for input, now finalized after a formal adoption vote. They state that major revisions would undermine the planning process, create legal vulnerabilities, and delay long-awaited infrastructure improvements and economic investment.

With the plan moving into the implementation phase, the dissatisfied business owners are exploring their limited options, which may include public advocacy campaigns or legal challenges. The dispute highlights the difficult balance cities must strike between fostering growth and preserving existing community fabric.