It’s not just about the money lost because of the seemingly endless roadwork.

The financial cost of last year’s seven-month street construction and ensuing traffic disruptions on Mont-Royal Ave. W. took a particularly devastating toll on Dr. Terence Yacovitch, who operates a dental clinic on the north side of the street near Esplanade Ave. But it’s the social cost that infuriates him even more, in that a significant number of his elderly and disabled patients have lost access to his clinic.  

In my column last week, the owners of Beautys restaurant and Venus Fleurs on Mont-Royal Ave. spoke out about losses suffered because of a dearth of parking and stopping spots, not only affecting customer access but also deliveries from their suppliers because of the roadwork — which will continue for at least another three weeks after the snow has completely vanished.

Beautys owner Elana Sckolnick, granddaughter of the renowned Hymie Sckolnick — who founded the iconic luncheonette 84 years ago —reported that her business was down 30 per cent in the last year. John Rodousakis, whose father started the Venus flower shop 65 years ago, revealed that he had a staggering financial loss of 85 per cent over the same period and acknowledged that if business didn’t pick up in a year, he would have to close down.

Yacovitch’s clinic has three other dentists — his daughter Dr. Katy Yacovitch, Dr. Toula Papageorgakopoulos and her daughter Dr. Christina Angelopoulos — plus his office manager/wife Suzanne Yacovitch, an office co-ordinator, a hygienist and two dental assistants. He can’t conceive of shutting his operation down, because too many nearby residents are so dependent on it.

“We’re just a little........

© Montreal Gazette