The proposed fee could improve safety and cleanliness in the area, but critics say it won’t fix the underlying challenge facing downtown.

The Honolulu City Council is considering imposing a new fee for downtown properties to help revitalize what was once a bustling commercial center. But some small downtown business owners say the proposal won’t address what they need: more customers, specifically office workers who previously were the lifeblood of the area’s economy.

“You can do whatever you want, it’s not going to bring people here,” said Zareh Abrahamian, property manager of the Arcade Building on Merchant Street . “You can stand on your head and do somersaults, it’s not going to happen.”

Abrahamian’s comments underscore the challenge facing Hawaiʻi’s biggest business district. The

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