A coalition of Woodstock business owners is asking town officials for a stronger role in planning for the Route 212 overhaul, saying construction during peak tourism season could disrupt the summer revenue many downtown businesses rely on to survive the winter.
Melissa Gibson, co-owner of the cannabis dispensary HERbal Woodstock, and Lea Haas, owner of the all-vegan Garden Cafe Woodstock, brought the concerns to the Town Board on Tuesday, June 2, after organizing a meeting of about 30 local businesses. The group formed after a March 24 public presentation on two related Route 212 projects left some business owners worried about access to shops, restaurants, galleries, wellness studios, and venues.
“We’re trying to bring community together, to be one voice,” Haas said.
The business owners said they are not opposing the infrastructure work, which is meant to improve accessibility and pedestrian safety. Instead, they are asking the town and the New York State Department of Transportation to reconsider or minimize disruption during the summer months, and to create a plan for parking, rerouting, traffic flow, signage, and communication before construction begins.
“Time is of the essence,” Haas said. “We need to be ready for this.”
The concerns reflect the fragile economics of a tourism-driven town, where summer visitors, fall leaf peepers, and winter recreation help sustain independent businesses through slower months.
“Summer is not just a busy season,” Gibson said. “It is the season that allows us to survive all the quieter months. And it’s the revenue in the summer that keeps our doors open in the winter.”
The Route 212 plan includes a state-led reconstruction of Tinker Street between Schoonmaker Lane and Rock City Road, and a separate bike-and-pedestrian path proposal between Wittenberg Road and Schoonmaker Lane.
The funded state project, from Schoonmaker Lane to Rock City Road, is in preliminary design, with construction scheduled to begin in summer 2027. It includes sidewalk reconstruction, bridge replacements, accessibility improvements, and other changes meant to improve pedestrian safety along one of Woodstock’s busiest corridors.
The separate “post-to-post” project, from Wittenberg Road to Schoonmaker Lane, remains unfunded. The town has applied for a state grant of about $7 million, with a required local match of between $1.6 million and $1.7 million.
Gibson said the coalition has asked who will be responsible for minimizing disruption, how roads and sidewalks will be affected, whether there is a budget for business-impact mitigation, and which parts of the project remain open to public input. She said the group also wants to know whether sidewalk work could be completed before the height of summer.
“The fact that construction is scheduled during peak summer season raises serious concerns about access, traffic flow, parking, visitor experience and financial sustainability,” Gibson said. “Protecting access to our businesses during peak season is not optional. It’s essential for the economy of Woodstock as a whole.”
The business owners are asking for a designated town liaison, advocacy from the town in discussions with the state, clear signage during construction, temporary parking solutions, and a meeting among the town, the Department of Transportation, Complete Streets representatives, and affected businesses.
They are also looking for ways to keep visitors coming during construction, including parking plans tied to walking tours that could guide pedestrians through different parts of town.
“We can have a lot of fun with this,” Gibson said. “We can have different types of places where you park here and then it’s a walking tour.”
Haas said the stakes extend beyond individual businesses. She said Garden Cafe alone employs 17 people who live, shop, and contribute in Woodstock.
“It isn’t about just having to get through a few hard years financially,” Haas said in a follow-up message. “It is a community that might not survive a few hard years. How would we recover? We are asking to prevent even having to go down that road.”
The coalition also hopes to continue beyond the construction project as a support network for Woodstock businesses.
After the meeting, Supervisor Anula Courtis said she was glad the group had organized. She said she had met with 12 businesses and would be happy to include business owners in discussions with the Department of Transportation.
Gibson said the coalition wants to work with the town while there is still time to shape a plan.
Referring to the anticipated start of construction, Gibson said the town could not afford to wait.
“It’s 11 months away and if we don’t start now, we’re not going to make it through,” Gibson said.
Noah Eckstein is the editor-in-chief of The Overlook. Send correspondence to noah@theoverlooknews.com.
