SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - "A little pain now to have a lot of gain later," is how one business owner is describing the reconstruction going outside his store on 50 Street.

"Business has slowed a little bit. It seems traffic is down," said Bill Stirling, who owns Overlander Sports with his wife Sandra.

Bill Stirling, owner of Overlander Sports on 50 Street, says business has been slow since roadwork began outside his business last month, but he expects the street will be much improved once construction is done. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

"But I think once it's done it's going to look great."'

Reconstruction, or "revitalization," as city officials call it, of the one-block stretch of 50 Street between Veterans Memorial Drive and Franklin Avenue has been ongoing since June. It's part of an overall 50 Street rehabilitation project that will take three years to complete at a budgeted cost of $1.6 million.

If approved by city council, next year's reconstruction will take place between Franklin and 51 Avenue, followed by 50 Street between 51 and 52 Avenue in 2011.

Dennis Kefalas, the city's director of public works, said one of main goals is to bring back the "boutiques." A number of businesses, including Langlois and Chez Patricia, moved from 50 Street - in 2006 after growing tired of the public drunkenness and watching their customers getting harassed outside.

"If you put an effort into making these streets look nice, then people will want to move their businesses there," Kefalas said of the boutiques.

"It's trying to ensure that some of the businesses stay down there instead of trying to go out to the other commercial areas in town."

The project is the culmination of work begun by the downtown enhancement committee, formed in 2002 to hash out ideas to revitalize the downtown core.

Improvements along 50 Street will include adding planters with flowers, trees, new street lamps, benches and bicycle racks to lend it a more pedestrian and shopper-friendly environment.

Jeff Humble, director of planning and lands, said businesses are encouraged to apply for grants to spruce up their properties under the city's facade and site improvement program, which has a yearly $45,000 pot of money in its funds.

Only one business applied this year, Fuego, where reconstruction is taking place right now. The restaurant received $30,000 to build an outdoor deck, said Humble.