Under current city rules, licensed roadway cafés can operate from April 1 through Nov. 29.
In recent days, we've spotted curbside dining setups of various sizes going up around the East Village (bottom two photos by Stacie Joy)...
Meanwhile, the City Council is expected to advance legislation that would again allow year-round operation of roadway dining setups.
The change would eliminate the need for restaurants to dismantle and rebuild curbside setups each season. This costly and time-consuming process has contributed to a sharp drop in outdoor dining citywide, according to Crain's.
The proposal, led by Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler, reportedly has support from Council leadership, the mayor's office and hospitality groups. However, opponents have concerns about sanitation, design, and the loss of parking spaces.
A City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on the bills was held on March 3. During roughly three hours of public testimony — with 47 speakers — some opponents of the year-round plan noted that only one committee member remained in the room for the duration.
Supporters of the measure say a permanent program would better support small businesses and neighborhood activity.
"Seasonal outdoor dining has shown how our streets can serve people first," Sara Lind, co-executive director of Open Plans, told EVG via email.
Restler told Crain's that it's important the measure passes before summer so businesses have time to plan ahead for 2027.
For now, the seasonal setups are back — and the debate continues.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Here we go again!
ReplyDeletecurbside dining is a really bad idea in this congested city. ( don’t tell the rats I said this )
ReplyDeletecurbside dining is a really good idea in this congested city, much better than using the space for storing private vehicles.
ReplyDeleteUhh ok. It’s a road. For transportation. That we all use. And the spaces are public. And the cars aren’t stored lmao, they’re parked and they move when used what are you even saying?
DeleteRats are bad tippers.I like the outside dining if it is properly managed.
ReplyDeletewell I guess that's me back to walking in the street all summer, or possibly forever, since the sidewalks now belong to the restaurants
ReplyDeleteOh boy, here we go again. As a former server who endured working in one of these outdoor sheds during the stifling heat of summer with rats and cockroaches running amok and who happens to live near a restaurant with a large shed, I hope it remains seasonal due to the filth from patrons left behind not to mention the constant annoyance of loud noises/ voices. If this receives all year approval, I will move to the bowels of another borough.
ReplyDeleteyou are SO correct....the blight is back.....
DeleteI don’t mind the outside dining as long as the sheds are well maintained and kept clean. On occasion I like to dine outdoors. I do like the seasonal aspect of it. I don’t know how it would work in the winter months, especially if we get as much snow as we had this year. I understand everyone’s concerns, but it’s kind of nice to have a glass of wine outside in the sun now and again.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of walking in the street; I'd be the first to join any pedestrians-rights group that springs up.
ReplyDeletefantastic, better seats than cars.
ReplyDeleteReally hate this. Feels so unclean, like when there are mounds of snow around. It’s amazing to me that what round sidewalk isn’t enough. So weird.
ReplyDeletewhat is not explained - or defined: outdoor sidewalk seating is not in question....it will always remain. it is the restaurant occupiers of the public space (roadbed shacks) which are the problem. ask any fireman about the existence of these problematic structures and they will tell you how bad they are - for limiting passage of fire vehicles, access to hydrants,..and mostly -- stating that if you live in a building with a restaurant shack in front ...be very, very worried - as fires are extremely difficult to extinguish with this situation
ReplyDeleteYea try living above one of these sheds, no rest whatsoever
ReplyDeleteEspecially on weekends when the bros and hoes congregate en masse & keep shouting over each other.
DeleteUgh. Trash, rats, noise 12 months a year. Aren't sidewalk cafes enough? This isn't Paris.
ReplyDelete@scuba diva, you might be interested in CueUp NY. www.cueupny.com/
ReplyDeleteanyone who has lived in new york for any amount of time knows that the city is and always has been filled with trash, rats, and noise....people need to grow up
ReplyDeleteMy block, East 9 St between 2nd and 1st Aves, is a narrow one car lane, a bike lane and parking on two sides. It is also a cross-town BUS lane! The sheds are only one obstacle making this a mess. One double-parked car (running in to get coffee at Mudd) or delivery truck & traffic STOPS! And the honking STARTS. If they're not double-parking in the street, they're parked in the bike lane and causing traffic jams especially for the bus drivers. I'm tired of losing sleep over restaurant noise and car honking.
ReplyDelete