Do you want outdoor dining to stay after the pandemic?
In early February, New York City Council’s two committees that oversee zoning and land use voted to favor zoning changes for permanent outdoor dining. This is the first step for NYC to have a permanent al fresco eatery program. Another vote by the entire 51 members of the Council is scheduled for February 24.
Why do we need outdoor dining?
Prior to the pandemic, restaurants in NYC were operated in narrow districting zones. An emergency Open Restaurant Program was introduced during COVID-19, allowing restaurants to use sidewalk adjacent and curbside roadway space in front of their establishments for outdoor dining. Outdoor dining was estimated to save about 100,000 restaurant jobs during the pandemic.
What is the timeline to make outdoor dining permanent in NYC?
According to the city's website, legal actions will take place between fall 2021 and fall 2022, including an amendment to zoning text, changes to local law, rulemaking, design, and application details. Then, the permanent program application is scheduled to open in winter 2022 before it launches in 2023.
What are the pushbacks for outdoor dining?
Opposers to the permanent plan cited that sanitation, noise pollution, pedestrian safety, designing, accessibility, and enforcement were the primary concerns. Yet, both restauranteurs and customers want outdoor dining. A survey reveals that 95% of NYC restaurant operators believe outdoor dining was “very important” to their survival over the past two years. Moreover, 91% say permanent outdoor dining is “very important” to future survival.
NYC is not alone
From San Francisco to NYC, restauranteurs nationwide want outdoor dining to stay after the pandemic. Some places like San Diego issue permits for outdoor dining for a fee.
Outdoor dining is also known as “al fresco dining” or “dining alfresco.” The word “al fresco” is borrowed from Italian. Although “al fresco” actually means “in prison” or “spending time in jail” in Italian, outdoor dining is trendy in Europe, especially during the summertime. Do you want outdoor dining to stay permanent in the U.S. too?
