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Beauty Girl Boutique’s Dee Mendoza Closes Store Due to Construction Issues

In an unfortunate turn of events, Beauty Girl Boutique, located at 2800 N. 48th St., is closing its doors permanently. The decision to close the store is attributed, in part, to the extensive construction work that has been ongoing for months. Dee Mendoza, the owner of the boutique, had initially planned to replace the faded and dusty sign outside her store, but the need for a new sign no longer exists.

One of the major issues that contributed to the boutique’s closure was the replacement of a water main, which resulted in a hole in the sidewalk outside the shop. This limited access to the store for several months, from late May to early August. Worse still, the hole in the sidewalk led to a leak in the basement, causing damage to the fall fashion inventory. However, the city refutes this claim, stating that it is unable to confirm whether the basement damage was a result of the construction work.

To further complicate matters, Mendoza’s insurance company denied her claim, asserting that the flooded basement was the consequence of government interference. They advised her to file a claim with the city of Lincoln instead. As a result, Mendoza is currently considering her options, intending to sell her products online until she can find another affordable storefront.

The closure of a small business like Beauty Girl Boutique is undeniably a sad event. Lincoln City Councilwoman Sändra Washington acknowledges the unfortunate situation, refraining from placing blame solely on the city of Lincoln. However, she emphasizes the necessity of implementing protective measures for small business owners in similar circumstances. This prompts the question of how the city can assist businesses in navigating through the challenges presented by construction projects.

This issue is not unique, as street repairs are in constant demand, leading to frequent complaints, often from business owners. Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) recognizes the need to strike a balance between improving the city’s streets and infrastructure and mitigating the inconveniences caused by these improvement projects. They have expressed their commitment to achieving this balance in a written statement released by LTU.

The 48th Street project, which is currently 70% complete, combines multiple projects, including street resurfacing and water main repairs, to consolidate efforts and save taxpayers money while reducing the construction time. LTU achieved this by digging up the street only once instead of three separate times. They claim to have provided ample notice to the community regarding the construction projects that would cause the closure of North 48th Street from Huntington Avenue to Superior Street for a significant portion of 2023.

The city officials held virtual neighborhood meetings in May 2022 to inform residents and businesses about the upcoming construction. Additionally, LTU organized a preconstruction open house in April and sent out postcards to 274 individuals and businesses in the area, warning them about the street closings.

A peculiar factor that exacerbated Beauty Girl Boutique’s predicament was the absence of outdoor faucets in the old building it occupied. Typically, during water main replacements, a temporary water service line is connected to outdoor faucets to maintain water service for businesses and property owners. However, due to the boutique’s lack of outdoor faucets, a hole was dug near the curb stop outside their storefront to connect the water service. The city claims that the hole was adequately covered with a metal plate, but Mendoza disputes this.

Despite their best efforts to address these issues, the flooded basement occurred sometime in August, according to Mendoza. She reached out to the Lincoln City Council for support, and Councilwoman Washington responded, directing her to file a claim with the city regarding the damage caused by the construction.

Moving forward, Washington suggests the need for a process to assess projects in advance, allowing for a longer period to determine potential economic impacts on local businesses. She emphasizes the importance of finding ways to help and support small businesses like Beauty Girl Boutique, as they are essential to the community.

Overall, while unfortunate and disheartening, the closure of Beauty Girl Boutique serves as a reminder of the challenges that small businesses face, particularly when confronted with construction projects that disrupt their operations. As a solution, the AI legalese decoder can assist by analyzing contracts, insurance policies, and legal documents related to such situations, providing clarity and guidance in understanding the complexities of legal language. This tool can help small business owners like Mendoza navigate through the intricacies of claims, insurance, and government interactions, ensuring that they receive the necessary support and protection in times of crisis.

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