For some businesses in Student Center, the building complex’s expansion is coming at a cost. Since construction began earlier this fall, several vendors say they have noticed a marked decline in business — something they blame on reduced access to the complex.
Constructive business:
“We’ve seen an estimated 15- to 20-percent decrease in revenues since construction has started,” said George Gonzalez, an employee of the General Store Co-op, one of several affected businesses.
The current expansion represents only the first of two parts of the building project, which is being paid for by self-assessed student fees. Expected to finish in October, the present phase will add 13,000 additional square feet to facilities in the areas around the north side of Student Center. Phase two, which will include construction within student Center itself, will consist mainly of renovations of existing buildings.
The project will also ensure that existing buildings comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires the presence of restrooms for the disabled and wheelchair-accessible elevators. Measures will also be taken to replace uneven bricks along pathways in order to accommodate wheelchairs.
“Our main objective is to improve utilization of Student Center in a way that will improve the places there,” University Centers Director Gary Ratcliff said.
Businesses have attributed a general decrease in foot traffic throughout the area to the project.
“With the lack of pathways around Mandeville Center, people find it harder to find themselves over here,” Gonalez said.
In an unusually wet winter, the weather has also proved to be a major issue, with the complex providing little indoor seating. Ratcliff said that excessively rainy weather may also be a factor responsible for the decrease in revenues among businesses.
“There’s very little indoor seating in Student Center, so that makes it a little difficult for students to visit during the rains,” Ratcliff said. “That’s one of the points we are trying to fix.”
The project will create additional interior dining seating designed for 160 individuals.
Other businesses, such as Groundwork Books, said they are also experiencing a decline in sales.
“There’s definitely fewer people coming around,” said Adriana Guajardo, an employee of the book collective. “I haven’t seen any numbers, but we had to return a lot of books to the publishers this quarter.”
Phase two of the building project will include the destruction of Groundwork Books’ present facility, eventually placing it in a more central location in Student Center.
Due to major construction centered in the complex itself, phase two of the plan has already caused anxiety for businesses.
“We haven’t really experienced anything major so far with phase one,” UCSD Bike Shop Manager Kris Wells said. “It’s really phase two that I’m worried about, because that will wrap construction right around the shop. We’re afraid people are going to assume that businesses aren’t in operation.”
University Centers is taking action to protect businesses with banners advertising Student Center vendors, according to Ratcliff.
“We’re making sure there’s going to be an outreach campaign so that students are fully aware that these services are open,” he said.
Phase two, to begin March 2006, will also complete renovating existing electrical and fire systems.
“In the short term, there are definitely going to be inconveniences,” Ratcliff said. “But really, we’re going to end up with a much better Student Center, and I don’t think anyone is going to have any regrets.”
