Boomtowns Chapel Hill: Small businesses near Franklin Street say the downtown building boom creating unintentional headaches [Video]

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) — The building boom in downtown Chapel Hill is having some unintended consequences for small businesses near Franklin Street.

Several business owners located near what the town calls the “Innovation District” — an area of rapid construction off Rosemary Street — say construction and street closures have led to traffic and parking headaches.

“It’s a problem that we deal with with every day,” said Holly Dedmond, manager of Chapel Hill Sportswear. “We just hope that local people will continue to come out and support the small businesses.”

Dedmond says she’s optimistic about the town’s growth but knows it won’t be easy navigating the development process.

“I think we’re excited about where the future of Franklin Street and Chapel Hill,” she said. “We just got to get there.”

Officials say it’s part of a broader shift on Franklin Street. More options on-campus for UNC students have cut into student foot traffic, sparking …