City officials blamed an unexpected $10 million shortfall in sales taxes being collected as part of the tax increment financing district, as well as cost increases on street and sidewalk reconstruction after unexpected complications, including old building basements that extend under public easements.
Those surprises also are blamed for streets being torn up and unfinished beyond original schedules.
Businesses along Main Street, including Coney Island Hot Dogs, 428 W Main, have seen deadlines for street construction go from November to December to January and beyond.
Film Row along the 700 block of W Sheridan Avenue was substantially completed months ago, but the sidewalks remain dark at night as streetlights, promised to be installed in September, have yet to materialize.
Public Works director Eric Wenger reported recently that an end is in sight with both projects, and that he is hopeful that other key closed streets, most notably Robinson Avenue between Main Street and Park Avenue, will be reopened as early as next month.
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