Downtown business owners are split on whether or not churches should be allowed to locate in the city’s central business district.
The issue was extensively discussed at the July 19 city council meeting with a public hearing on a longstanding zoning ordinance preventing churches from moving into the city’s central business district. The neighborhood includes downtown Sanford, Jonesboro and Broadway. Most participants expressed in public comments that they wanted the board to get rid of the order.
Although the matter was tabled by the council until a later date, opinions of downtown Sanford business owners varied.
Will Lank, manager of Advantage Auto Stores in the 100 block of Steele Street, said he had no problem with putting up churches downtown.
“That would be fine with me,” he said.
Across the street at Shay’s Lays Hair Studio, owner Shaywanna Cotton said she was unconcerned about the issue and believed there were more important things the city needed to focus on.
“I don’t have a stake one way or the other,” she said. “What about fixing the sidewalks and doing something for these homeless people? »
Next door at the Fringe Salon, owner Allison Garcia said she can see both sides. She has been home for two years.
“As a religious person, I see their side of things, but as a business owner, I’m concerned about the (potential) parking issue,” she said. “We’re working late and we’re starting to fill up (with businesses) here.”
She said customer access to her business as well as to others was a big concern.
“If they allow an organization like this, parking would be a problem,” she said. “I am very open to all faiths and they are increasingly becoming a Christian issue. There are other religions and if another religious organization wanted to be downtown, would they (government and residents). It is worrying.
She said it’s not like the city doesn’t have churches already established in the city.
“There are churches in the area,” she said. “It seems like they are making it more of a one-handed Christian issue and not a whole religious issue. The tax issue is also a bit of a concern.
Churches are mostly tax exempt.
Robin Goodwin, head of Books at a Steal, said churches are great, but not here.
“I’m all for churches, but I have a problem with them downtown,” she said. “It’s hard enough to run a storefront now. I just think the logistics would be a problem.
She said she’s glad the city council is taking the time to consider this issue.
“We have (churches) to the left and right of the business district,” he said. “I’m glad the city took a break and looked into the logistics issue.”
Sherry Garner, owner of Gown & Tux at the corner of Wicker and Steele streets, has been in business for 30 years and believes that downtown businesses located downtown are not on the city’s priority list. She said parking is a big problem and there are already organizations located downtown that take up a lot of parking spaces.
“Parking was an issue and always has been,” she said.
She said those who want to shop downtown must constantly pay attention to the time, which she thinks her customers need.
“They (the police) scare people away by writing tickets,” she said. “I have customers here for hours trying on dresses. I have to tell my customers (of parking time restrictions) and it’s really cheesy.
Garner said churches don’t bother her.
“If you had more churches here, maybe there wouldn’t be so many problems,” she said. “You never know, one person can make a difference.”
She said there are more bars in Sanford and thinks they’ve been lenient on the city’s part when it comes to parking and their events.
“You can have a street fair and buy beer right on the street,” she said. “Doesn’t this encourage drunk driving?”
Kim Hall, owner of Redoux Home Vintage on the 200 block of Steele Street, said she had a problem with churches potentially moving downtown.
“There are not enough parking spaces here,” she said. “Our customers have difficulty parking.”
She said the area is for companies to do business.
“Traders are there to sell,” she said. “We want businesses. We don’t want congregations.
Alan Dossenbach, owner of Dossenbach’s Finer Furniture, has been a downtown business anchor for 76 years.
He said churches in a city’s business district cast a negative light on the city.
“The churches in front of the shops make the city look dead,” he said. “The perception is that they can’t rent to someone else.”
Dossenbach, who is a deacon in his church, said investors and business owners looking to start a business in a particular community always check their business district.
“The perception it’s going to give when people drive through it feels like your city is dying,” he said. “When you have a storefront, the potential is that you can find a viable business to fill it. If it looks like it’s dying, why should they want to come here? »
Like Dossenbach, Emalee McCracken, owner of Bert’s Furniture, doesn’t believe downtown is the ideal location for a church.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said.
She said organizations like Downtown Sanford Inc. and the city have worked hard to revitalize downtown Sanford.
“Having a building used only on Sundays would be economic suicide,” she said. “We need these spaces (showcases) to be filled with people who are going to support him. I want it to be used every day, not just Sundays. Your storefronts must have stores.
