Some businesses ignored in commercial plan

I own one of the non-dining establishments on West Prospect Avenue who bring shoppers to Mount Prospect. Like many other small business owners who have invested time and money into the community, I have worked for the past 14 years building my practice here in the belief that this administration would support our efforts, as their predecessors have done so well in the past.

Now, after ignoring the needs of the majority of other nearby businesses who do not serve food along Prospect Avenue, we find that the needs of our customers, and ourselves as owners, are being ignored in hopes that Mount Prospect can somehow hope to emulate downtown Arlington Heights.

With the onset of alfresco dining last summer on the sidewalk and into the street for two new restaurants on our block of Prospect Avenue, and this year’s continuation of this alleged “success,” as touted by our city fathers, my revenue is down and my remaining patients regularly complain about reduced parking and inconvenient access to my Vision Center.

This is in addition to restaurant tables that intrude onto the sidewalk in front of our building, plus the trash discarded onto the street and sidewalk by nearby diners.

I chose Mount Prospect for my practice in 2011 because the village was business-friendly. Back then, it was friendly to ALL businesses.

Linda S. Murray

Mount Prospect