A promise of progress: Riverview Plaza under repair after July storms

ST. CLAIR - Riverview Plaza is still in a state of repair due to heavy storm damage from earlier this summer.

Some businesses inside the plaza are still closed due to the damage while others are open and serving customers. The July storms resulted in the plaza getting water damage and holes in its roof from hail. St. Clair Riverview Plaza Association President Norbert Alexander said repairs include a new roof, a new façade to the building's exterior and repairs to the plaza's interior.

The repairs are estimated to cost between $2.5 and $3 million. The plaza is fully insured, so grants will not be necessary for the repairs.

"Some businesses were interrupted, some relocated temporarily, and we anticipate the new roofs to completed within a few weeks," Alexander said. "At which time, interior renovations can be completed."

Alexander said the plaza association is grateful the plaza is fully insured. He said the association had plans in the works to replace the plaza's roof a month before the storms anyway, so the storm damage only sped up the process.

The plaza's current roof is about 20 years old.

Alexander also owns Norbert Alexander Hair Design in the plaza. He said the salon needs relatively minor repairs compared to other businesses in the plaza.

St. Clair Riverview Plaza Association Chairperson Kris Paul said the damage to the plaza was extensive. He said the roofs at the plaza are flat, so they are susceptible to hail damage.

The plaza is broken up into five blocks, and Paul said the roof repairs are being done by section. He said the block he owns, C Block, is having its roof repaired last because its damage was not as extensive as other areas.

"We were able to manage the issues we have a little better than others, so the others are being attended to first," he said.

Paul said the ordeal has been fairly difficult and emotionally challenging to the many people involved at the plaza. He said some of the business owners have over 20 years invested into the plaza, so having something affect their business that is out of their control is a stressful situation.

"Once we get through this, we're going to be positioned for another long run of prosperity in St. Clair," Paul said. "We're looking forward to being on the other side of this challenge."

Alexander said the customers have been incredibly supportive to the businesses at the plaza. He said he can sense the excitement regarding the renovations within the community and plaza's customer base.

"Although it was despairing in the beginning, we're quickly turning it around with the promise of progress," he said.

Alexander said the plaza also recently renovated its parking lot. He said with the upcoming plaza repairs, the new parking lot, renovations being done at the St. Clair Inn, recent road work and the new Boardwalk Theatre will make the city of St. Clair sparkle with newness.

Tru Blue Boutique owner Lorinda Kain said the damage to her business was not as bad as others. She's had some roof leakage, which has required buckets to occasionally be placed in the store, the floors to be mopped and some merchandise to be moved.

"It has fortunately leaked in the same spot every time, so I haven't had too many surprises," Kain said.

Kain said she is fortunate her business did not have to close due to storm damage. She said she knows her fellow businesses at the plaza are working hard to reopen as soon as possible.

Tami Andrews, the general manager for The Anchor Point Cafe, said she doesn't think there was one business within the plaza unaffected by the storm damage. She said the cafe was initially closed for a few days to repair damage in the kitchen, but it has since reopened.

However, the café will temporarily close from Sept. 18 to the end of October to have roof repairs, floor replacements, carpet replacements and drywall repairs. She said Oct. 30 is the target reopen date.

"We just hope people keep coming in," Andrews said. "Once we open back up, we'll be jumping into the holiday season stuff."

Andrews said the cafe's regular customers have responded great throughout the ordeal. She said some even offered to help clean the damage.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.

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This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Riverview Plaza repairs