Should Edmonton business owners impacted by construction be paid for it?

Construction is a nightmare if you’re a driver, but even more so if you’re a business owner.

Penny Smith used to own a video game store on Stony Plain Road and 156th Street in west Edmonton but says she had to move because of the Valley Line West LRT construction.

“I predicted right from the beginning that the LRT was going to impact my business, by closing the parking lot, and I knew that if I didn’t get out of there I wouldn’t have a business anymore,” she explained.

It was almost exactly two years ago CityNews spoke with Smith at the former site of her video game store in west Edmonton, a location she was in for over three decades.

But with Valley Line West LRT construction taking over the street, making it incredibly difficult, and effectively impossible to park, Smith made the choice to move 14 blocks west to 170 Street to stay in business.

“I’m 68 years old and I had to mortgage my house up towards $150,000 to make this move. My lease wasn’t up for another six to seven months, I just told my landlord I was leaving and until this day I don’t know if he’s going to sue me or not.”

Smith isn’t the only Edmonton business owner feeling isolated by construction, Wednesday afternoon Edmonton City Council heard from frustrated business owners all impacted by long-standing road construction and LRT projects.

Council ultimately voted to consider a $250,000 pilot to help struggling businesses on Stony Plain Road in fall budget talks.

“We know and we recognize that businesses do get impacted by long-term construction projects, particularly big construction projects, but there are benefits after the construction is completed. They get new infrastructure, better access, and new customers. So I think we need to balance that with the immediate challenges,” explained Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

This comes as Edmonton is facing mounting financial pressures in the upcoming budget. With $88 million in financial challenges facing council in the fall budget.

But businesses near the Valley Line West LRT, are still unable to believe the expected timeline of having construction done by 2028.

“They told me just wait it out, cause the LRT is going to bring lots of people, foot traffic, well the LRT is not going to be there maybe for another eight to ten years until it’s open, maybe six years. Well, how is a small business supposed to do? How are we going to survive until it’s done?” asked Smith.