Is Broadway about to undergo a dramatic change? Business owners said they’re worried that if the city acquires the rights to Broadway, there will be a change. However, city officials said those fears have been unfounded.
Business owners expressed concern that the downtown area might be developed from the roads into something with seating and planters.
They're worried the bustle seen there will change into something where patrons may be less likely to enter businesses.
"We think it would have a negative impact to ever close the street off without a specific event going on in the street,” Brenda Sanderson said. “Often times, when you do that, the party goes to the street and it hurts businesses along the way."
Sanderson said the musicians have been what really makes the downtown area click. We all know they're in every bar.
Instead of any development, she said a stronger downtown police presence would help; however, we met with one musician there who said he thinks more development might be a good thing for the area, if only for space.
"I think at some point, there might have to be a change,” said Bobby Cutshaw. “I don't know when that's happening, but I know things are getting really, really tight down here."
NewsChannel 5 has been told by Public Works that, yes, they want to acquire the road, but officials added it's not to make major changes to it.
They stated it's to make it easier for the city to close down the road for special events, like when the Predators went to the playoffs.
The discussion was in the very early stages.
