Amid the fallout from prolonged road work that crippled business and a costly water-main incident at Northeast Lincoln’s Beauty Girl boutique, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) steps forward to share their side of the story and provide a project update.
Previous KLIN News reporting detailed the conditions that ultimately rendered operations at the University Place business untenable, including 6 months of suffocating road closures and a water main replacement mishap that flooded the store’s basement and destroyed $12,000 in fashions.
Previous reporting emphasized the perspective of Beauty Girl’s owner, Denise Mendoza, regarding the circumstances of her business’s closure. KLIN News had not contacted LTU for comment at the time of the report.
Subsequently, LTU officials have offered a formal statement on the conditions that afflicted Mendoza’s business on the corner store on North 48th Street and Madison Avenue. They have also given a status update on the multiple coinciding projects restricting access to the University Place business strip and neighborhood.
What’s happening in University Place?
Three projects affecting street access are currently underway in the area.
- Street improvements to N. 48th Street from Leighton Avenue to Superior Street
- Road work to several streets in the surrounding University Place Neighborhood.
- Replacement of a 6-inch water main that runs along 48th Street from Leighton Avenue to Gladstone Street.
Portions of N. 48th Street have been closed off to traffic since work began in spring of 2023.
Why is LTU scheduling all these projects at the same time?
According to LTU, these projects are scheduled concurrently for the sake of efficiency.
“The projects are in construction at the same time to minimize construction inconveniences and save taxpayer funds to repair the street and water main at the same time instead of digging up the street in the future which would cost additional funds and prolong business disruptions due to construction in the area,” said LTU in a written statement, “By completing both projects simultaneously, this significantly reduces the construction duration on 48th Street by more than a year.”
Was a full closure of this portion of N. 48th Street necessary?
Due to the deterioration and location of the University Place water main, which stretches over 10 blocks, LTU says a full closure is necessary for extensive reconstruction. Additionally, a full closure provide safety to road crews and community members. This main-line provides water to surrounding businesses and homes.
To LTU’s credit, they have utilized multiple methods of communication to inform the public about construction efforts taking place. During design and pre-construction, city officials and the engineering consultant JEO attended an EPCO neighborhood association meeting via zoom and a table during the “Streets Alive!” event in September, as well as an open house in April, attended by about 35 people according to LTU. Postcards and door hangers were also distributed to 274 area businesses and residents in the area.
The city added that an Economic Development Specialist has contacted approximately 45 businesses along the strip to discuss the project.
What about Beauty Girl?
As detailed in previous reporting, Mendoza had spotty communication with the city regarding the construction.
When asked about any city notices she had received, Mendoza said, “I received none.” She speculated official notices were likely received by the property owner, and not forwarded her way. Mendoza said a customer alerted her to the upcoming road work.
A TikTok still-frame showing construction efforts crowding the store front corner of Beauty Girl Boutique (Courtesy: Beauty Girl-Womens Fashions)
She initially attempted to reach the city council in early May. At this time, Mendoza was asking when road work would be complete, as it was creating a mess and kicking up cement dust near the stores entrance. Mendoza did not hear back from the city council for over three months. Only after she sent a more dire message, accompanied by pictures of a large construction hole near the front door and damaged merchandise soaked and covered in concrete, did she receive a response in August.
Mendoza reached out through the “councilpacket@lincoln.ne.gov” email, which is listed as a valid means of contacting the council.
Again, to LTU’s credit, after Council Vice Chair Sändra Washington followed up with LTU Director, Liz Elliott, Mendoza said an LTU official contacted her with in the week.
Mendoza shared with KLIN News another line of communication she had with City Council Office Manager Jamel Ways, who followed up about a week after Washington, saying “I’m sorry for the situation that you are going through, I would be upset as well. I want to know if anyone has reached out to you to discuss this issue?”
Mendoza described how LTU had contacted her but didn’t offer any solutions. Lamenting her business may be doomed by several more months of construction, she asked if there was anything that could be done to help her.
“This sounds very frustrating,” Ways wrote back, “I’m going to do some checking and see if there are any options the City may have. Since the building is owned by someone else, perhaps their insurance can assist by submitting a claim and then proceeding with a subrogation? This I am not sure of but, could possibly be an option.”
Ways also indicated she attached Northeast Lincoln City Councilman James Michael Bowers, who represents the University Place area, to the email so that he could be aware of this situation.
Mendoza told KLIN News she has had no communications with Bowers.
A TikTok still-frame showing the distance between the curb-hole and the Beauty Girl entrance. (Courtesy: Beauty Girl-Womens Fashions)
The hole outside the Beauty Girl entrance?
During a typical water main replacement, in order to maintain water service to connected properties, a temporary water line is connected to outdoor faucets. According to LTU, Beauty Girl‘s building did not have these outdoor faucets because the building is so old. This is what necessitated the the hole outside of Beauty Girl‘s storefront on the corner of N. 48th and Madison Street, to hook up said water services to Mendoza’s business and others in the same building (namely 72Select Barber Shop and High Hopes Dispensary).
The city claims the hole was fully covered with a steel plate unless construction activities required direct access. Mendoza disputes this claim.
The temporary water service hole was made in late May, utilized for roughly 2 months (June-July), and filled on August 2nd.
To what degree was customer access to Beauty Girl affected?
While accessible throughout construction, Beauty Girl patrons faced various hurdles to get into the store.
A TikTok still-frame showing sidewalk being broken up for replacement on the East side of the building housing Beauty Girl and other businesses. (Courtesy: Beauty Girl-Womens Fashions)
During the time that north-south traffic access was blocked along N. 48th Street, customers were required to navigate into the surrounding University Place neighborhood to arrive to Beauty Girl, with parking available along residential streets, as well as a city parking lot behind Mendoza’s business which maintained access.
The City says a degree of sidewalk traffic was maintained on Madison Avenue with access into Beauty Girl Boutique. Parts of the sidewalk were torn up for a portion of the water main replacement. Construction crews poured new sidewalks surrounding Beauty Girl Boutique, according to the city, in early September. The sidewalk was torn up for about 2 weeks, based on the timeline of events.
While technically accessible, a determined patron might find themselves flanking the store through neighborhood streets to find parking and crossing construction areas to browse affordable threads.
The Beauty Girl basement flood?
A TikTok still-frame showing several bags of destroyed boutique fashions soaked in concrete. (Courtesy: Beauty Girl-Womens Fashions)
As for the flooded basement of Beauty Girl that claimed $12,000 in product according to Mendoza: LTU’s statements said, “No City or contractor personnel had any visual inspection of the claim. This cannot be determined at this time.”
KLIN News followed up on this with Mendoza, who said when she spoke with an LTU over the phone about the situation, the official did not indicate any intention to come inspect the damages. An insurance agent was the only person Mendoza says came by to assess the damages associated with the basement flooding and lost merchandise.
What next?
“I just want what’s fair,” Mendoza said candidly, “If they want to settle, then what’s fair is fair… and just consider everybody else and what you’re doing, that’s it. Just be more mindful of the neighborhoods, the businesses, the people driving to work. Have a heart for God’s sakes.”
Mendoza told KLIN News she has intentions to file a claim with the city.
As forecasted, Beauty Girl closed doors for good at its North 48th and Madison location on Saturday. Mendoza mentioned that business had been brisk during the liquidation sale. She expressed being deeply moved by the outpouring of community support she had received, hemmed behind her register-topped display case by a pile of discarded hangers.
Mendoza delivered her official goodbye (to this location at least) on TikTok, hinting this might not be the last time we hear from Beauty Girl.
“I’ll be back,” Mendoza chuckled.
@beautygirlfashions♬ original sound – BeautyGirlFashions.com
Project Update:
LTU provided, along side this response, an update on the University Place road and water main repair:
Lincoln on the Move (LOTM) 48th from Leighton to Superior street improvements are approximately 75% complete and include a mill and overlay of the existing asphalt surface and concrete panel replacement where required. Additional work with other funding sources includes upgrades to existing sidewalk ramps to comply with federal and local standards.
Completed segments on North 48th Street include:
- Segment A – Superior Street to Cornhusker Highway
- Segment B – Cornhusker Highway to Gladstone Street
- Segment C – Madison Avenue to Greenwood Street
- Segment D – Greenwood to Gladstone streets
The 48th Street from Leighton to Gladstone water main replacement project is approximately 70% complete, with work completed on Phase 1 from Madison Avenue to Greenwood Street. Work includes the lining of the existing 6” water main and installation of new hydrants.
Remaining work on North 48th Street includes:
- Street improvements from Leighton to Madison avenues (segment E).
- Installation of Lincoln’s first Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon at Huntington Avenue.
- Continuing work on phase 2 of the water main project from Leighton to Madison avenues. This includes reconnection of services to the newly lined 6” water main, installation of new hydrants, and a new section of water main on Leighton Avenue from North 48th to North 49th streets.
- Installation of new traffic signals at the Cornhusker Highway intersection.