The construction of the new Bridge Street Pier is finally underway in Bradenton Beach.
After about a year of the pier being closed due to storm damage and not finding the right contractor, the project is going strong. However, the large equipment, noise and smell is hurting the pier's restaurant, Cast N Cage.
“I see it as an ugly eye soar right now,” said owner of Cast N Cage Roland Pena.
Pena has to look at the pier construction every day.
On the weekends construction stops but during the week Pena says it's noisy, smelly and scares customers away.
“A lot of pounding, wood-cutting," said Pena. "You know, fumes coming off of the chainsaws and the fumes coming off the big cranes coming off behind us.”
Mitchell Sofia was dining at the restaurant on Saturday and said since the view is now a construction site, he and his wife decided to eat inside.
“You know the ambiance isn’t as good when you are facing that way because of the pier construction," said Sofia. "We figured we would get a nice view of the bay on this end.”
Mark Thornton almost didn’t come for lunch.
“When we first came up by boat, we thought it might be closed,” said Thornton.
Pena says his business has decreased by about 40 percent since the construction started, and now he is asking for the city's help.
Last week Pena told City Of Bradenton Beach commissioners about the hit his restaurant is taking. Mayor Bill Shearon came up with an idea.
“I made a recommendation that the rent be decreased," said Shearon. "There is going to be a hardship for our concession area during our construction period because the pier will be torn completely out.”
“We are just asking for a reasonable amount to be reduced so that we can continue to operate and keep the restaurant running,” said Pena.
Shearon’s recommendation will be discussed during the Bradenton Beach Commisson Meeting this Thursday at 6 p.m. This meeting is open to the public. The project is scheduled to be completed in January.