Public safety and beautification topped concerns of business owners last week who attended the first meeting of the new 6th District Merchants Association.
Councilman Dwight Williams, D-6th, said it is just those types of concerns that prompted him to start the merchants’ association in an effort to unify the businesses and work together to address them.
“We need to try and attract more traffic to the Broadway corridor,” Williams said. In order to do that, the councilman said they need to focus on public safety and beautification in order for people to feel comfortable owning businesses and shopping there.
“We can’t attract more merchants and attract more business to those merchants if we don’t have those two things,” Williams said.
One of the first beautification efforts is the installation of decorative banners on light posts on Broadway from Ridge Road to 52nd Avenue. The banners feature the merchant association’s website. Williams plans to host fundraising events throughout the year with the revenues supporting the association’s beautification and public safety initiatives.
He hand-delivered 50 letters to merchants in the Broadway corridor. About six of those merchants showed up for the first meeting. He is hopeful as word gets around and the banners become more visible, more merchants will participate. The next meeting is 6 p.m. May 6 at LiveArts Studio, 4760 Broadway in Gary.
Debra Cooper, owner of Roy Boy’s Badlands Tattoos, was one of the business owners who attended the first meeting. Cooper said she has worked in Gary for 47 years and would not think of moving her business elsewhere.
“Gary has treated me well. It has blessed me and my business,” Cooper said.
Much of the conversation focused on concerns such as dumping, public safety and cameras in places like alleys, where problems more often occur, she said. Her main concern is the vacant and blighted building next to her shop at 3844 Broadway. Cooper said she would like to see that building torn down and was encouraged Williams said he would look into it.
She described the meeting as positive and would like to stay involved as long as everything seems to be moving forward toward accomplishing its goals.
“I think it’s important for business owners who have certain problems or issues to be able to talk about it and discuss it,” she said.
cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com
