Construction crews working to beautify downtown Hollister will
stop in their tracks, pack up their trucks and leave town for the
Independence Rally weekend.
Construction crews working to beautify downtown Hollister will stop in their tracks, pack up their trucks and leave town for the Independence Rally weekend.
The construction company, McGuire and Hester, had planned to be finished with the project by the Independence Day weekend, but ran out of time.
“There is a lot of work to do and they just got a little behind,” Redevelopment Agency Director Bill Avera said.
The new deadline for completion is in mid-August, but that might not be a bad thing according to Avera.
“It’s actually a good thing San Benito Street isn’t done yet because it won’t get destroyed with all the people downtown during the event,” he said. “So it’s better that way.”
When construction crews return after the rally, they will continue to work on the north sides of Fourth and Fifth Streets and finally revamp all of San Benito Street, replacing trees, sidewalks and lamp posts. Although the torn up sidewalks and replanting of trees has caused downtown business owners and customers some grief with parking and noise, Avera said he hasn’t heard too many complaints.
“I think by now people are used to them,” he said. “You know we only do this once every 30 years.”
Avera may not be hearing complaints, but Hallmark Sales Associate Lisa Boyer is. Sitting at the corner of Sixth and San Benito Streets, Hallmark is hit with a double construction whammy. After what employees say felt like a month of noise, dust and distraction, the business will soon have the same demolition issues at its front entrance.
“It’s going to be hard for customers to get in the store and I think that will hurt business,” Boyer said.
Liz Kresky, of the Hollister Downtown Association, said when the construction first began she heard many complaints, but now as things start to come together she’s hearing more yeas about the project than nays.
“Lately it’s been great,” she said. “A lot of people really like the new trees and they love the lamp posts.”
