A rendering of a planned expansion of the Eldridge Hotel in the 700 block of Massachusetts.

The Eldridge Hotel’s expansion project will close some downtown parking for more than a year and temporarily block sidewalks, according to a plan going before the Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday.

The closures have some downtown business owners worried.

“I’ve spoken with some of the other businesses on the street, and there’s general concern across the board for all of us,” said Jill Shephard, owner of Ruff House Art at 729 Massachusetts St.

A rendering of a planned expansion of the Eldridge Hotel in the 700 block of Massachusetts.

Commissioners will consider Tuesday approving a temporary use of right of way permit that would allow for the closure of on-street parking and a public parking lot at Vermont and Seventh streets. The City Commission will also advise city staff on how to work with the hotel in deciding pedestrian traffic plans.

Expansion plans for the Eldridge Hotel, 705 Massachusetts St., include adding an estimated 54 guest rooms and space for a banquet room. It would expand into the vacant parcel to the south.

Construction is estimated to start this month and run through December 2016.

According to a memorandum from Assistant Public Works Director Mark Thiel, city staff, Eldridge Hotel staff, Lawrence developer Thomas Fritzel and representatives from Paul Werner Architects have met several times to talk about effects on pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

An access plan states there will continue to be two-lane traffic along Massachusetts Street, though a portion of the 700 block will be narrowed to 12 feet and vehicles traveling north won’t be able to turn left onto Seventh Street.

Parking from 701 to 705 Massachusetts St. will be restricted, and a section of sidewalk in front of The Eldridge Hotel and along Seventh Street will be closed.

Thiel said in his memo that the police, parks and recreation and public works departments did not cite problems with the use of right of way permit. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, Lawrence Transit System, Downtown Lawrence Inc. and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce also had no issues, he noted.

But the blocked-off sidewalk raised concerns with Shephard and other business owners on the west side of that block.

Shepard and Cindy Hopper, owner of Sweet! at 717 Massachusetts St., sent letters to the public works department requesting a pedestrian walkway through the construction.

Matt and Jennifer Richards, the owners of Made, 737 Massachusetts St., also sent a letter to Thiel. They said sidewalk closures, even of a short duration, “tend to disrupt walk-by pedestrian traffic and, consequently, sales.”

“Anybody that’s going to be walking from Starbucks, Gap, Winfield House, they’re going to cross the street and walk on the other side, and we’re going to miss all of that,” Shephard said. “We’ll miss a big portion of traffic if there’s no walk-through for pedestrians.”

Thiel’s memo states that Eldridge staff agreed to allow pedestrians to walk through construction on Massachusetts Street “at a time when both they and the city agree pedestrian safety can be maintained.”

The plan does not include a time frame for when pedestrians could gain access.

The owners of Ruff House, Sweet! and Made all said in their letters they were concerned about the construction’s effects on sales during the 2015 and 2016 holiday shopping seasons, especially.

“That’s the biggest time of year for everyone down there — that’s pretty concerning,” Shephard said.

In her letter, Hopper proposed the contractors start work in January so it would affect only one fourth-quarter period.

City commissioners will also be asked Tuesday to authorize a lease agreement with the Eldridge for the public parking lot at Seventh and Vermont streets.

The parking lot, which contains 28 spaces, will be closed for the entirety of the project.

Under the lease agreement, the Eldridge would pay the city $8,000 monthly. A maximum $15,000 will be paid back to the Eldridge after contractors restore the lot to its previous condition.

A plan from Paul Werner Architects states the parking garage adjacent to the Lawrence Public Library “has capacity to accommodate all parking affected by construction of the project.”

The City Commission’s regular meeting will start at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St.