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:
No comments:
Post a Comment