The Destruction of Black Orlando

The Dilemma of Orlando’s Black Business Community

By Roger Caldwell
The Black Business Community in downtown Orlando is dying a slow death. At one time this downtown corridor was a renaissance of Black entrepreneurs and merchants. There existed pedestrian, automobile traffic, and future plans for a thriving and successful Black Business community.

The African American community in Orlando was extremely proud of this section of Church Street because it exemplified the aspirations, hopes, and dreams of the civil rights movement. The city of Orlando had established a partnership with these Black merchants by creating an ‘incubator’ to help minority businesses expand and grow. This economic empowerment zone would give Black merchants an opportunity to live the American dream.

This dream in the last few years has turned into a nightmare. There was probably at the height of the renaissance 25 merchants with diverse merchandise and different businesses. Today, there are 11 Shops located at the West Side Church Street Marketplace in downtown Orlando. Many of the businesses are currently negatively impacted by the construction of the new Magic Arena.

Many of the businesses have lost 75%-90% of their business. This is due to the closing of one side of the street and the lack of access to parking on the other side of the street. The street is blocked, and there are detours before customers enter Church Street, the location of the businesses. There is construction everywhere around the location of the new arena, and as a result of the congestion, demolition, noise, and danger, many customers have decided to stay away from this construction zone.

The city of Orlando is the primary owner of this business corridor and the merchants feel that they should be compensated for the lost of business and their livelihood. The minority merchants want their rent deferred or paid until the end of the year, or until the arena is completed. At this juncture the rent has been paid for May and June 2008 by the city, but still the merchants are required to pay electricity and other expenses.

No decision has been made by the city and the Magic organization concerning the rent for July and August 2008 at this juncture. Bills and expenses continue to accumulate and many of the minority merchants feel they need additional compensation for lost sales, and to cover the negative impact that construction has created.

A major contention from the merchants is that no impact study was done by the city of Orlando or the Magic organization. Without an impact study the city or Magic cannot determine to what extent, and to what percentage, the construction has negatively impacted the minority business community. Usually a comprehensive assessment is done prior to construction to determine what activities and resources are necessary to sustain businesses during construction.

The merchants also contend that the city and the Magic organization have not assisted the minority merchants with advertisement, resources and marketing during a critical and challenging period. Many of the merchants have decided that the city and the Magic organization have isolated these businesses and waiting for them to die.

All of the 11 merchants located in downtown Orlando on the West Side Church Street Marketplace have been devastated by the construction, and at anytime they can lose their business. These entrepreneurs have invested their life saving into their businesses and their families are depending on them to survive. Some of these entrepreneurs have used their homes as collateral to finance their businesses, and now they are having trouble paying their mortgage.

These small minority merchants are more than just a number with a street address. They sell gifts, African crafts, books, fashions, food, beauty products, alterations, African Hair Braiding, and now they need community support.

At this critical and difficult situation, the city and the Magic organization are falling short of their responsibilities to the merchants. The city has held two meetings with the merchants with no tangible results. There is a board and commissioners, but the conversations have created more conversations with no meaningful solutions.

Many of the merchants have exhausted their personal resources with flyers, cards, and website advertisements. As a collective group, the West Side Street Marketplace has tried community events, sales, and block parties. With a limited promotion and advertising budget and limited assistance from the city and Magic organization, the conditions are deteriorating.

Based on the present current economic conditions some of the merchants probably will not survive. Others may survive if they receive the proper assistance and support from the city and the Magic organization.

Although rather late, we call on the city to undertake a comprehensive impact study as a matter of urgency.? This would more accurately determine how construction has affected business, and what innovative approaches can be implemented to improve business.

It would be a travesty if this economic empowerment zone that was established several years ago to help Black merchants expand and grow their businesses was to itself be undermined by the construction of the new Magic Arena.??? This certainly would run counter to economic empowerment for minority businesses!

Help keep America strong by supporting the West Side Church Street Marketplace.