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Here's The Plan To Bring Outdoor Dining Back To NYC
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 4, 2020
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 4, 2020
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On Monday, June 8th, New York City will begin to reopen under Phase 1, and as early as July we could be entering Phase 2 of the reopening plan — this phase would bring the return of outdoor dining, among other things. The news of outdoor dining returning in Phase 2 came on Wednesday during Governor Andrew Cuomo's press briefing; it was originally believed this would come in Phase 3, when restaurants may fully reopen.
At his briefing on Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed an "Open Restaurants" plan for NYC, which featured key points the City Council was pushing for earlier last month—this includes a simplified process in opening up outdoor spaces for restaurants to use, and allowing restaurants to "convert adjacent parking spots into more seating." Restaurants will also be allowed to create seating areas in Open Streets, and the city will be identifying new streets to open "on commercial strips with high volume of restaurants."
Mayor's Office
At the end of May, the New York City Council introduced new legislation that required the Department of Transportation to identify open spaces around the city—including sidewalks, streets and plazas—to use for this purpose. The DOT will help businesses reopen with outdoor dining, particularly those establishments that never had the space to offer, or only have limited space. Tables will need to be six-feet apart, which requires more than any sidewalk can offer. NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg referred to the plan as "a safe interim option as the city starts to reopen."
As for how all of this will work in a way that keeps both patrons and employees safe — as we are still very much in this pandemic — Cuomo only offered basic guidelines, which boiled down to wearing masks and social distancing. We recently asked several epidemiologists about socializing in the open air, and the consensus was that we need to still minimize "social activities or actions that lend themselves to coming into close contact with others."
Under the Phase 2 reopening plan, it would not be required to patrons to wear masks while they are sitting at their table.
Melba Wilson, owner of Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem and president of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said: "This is the shot in the arm that we need. If restaurants can't reopen, communities can't reopen... this will bring back jobs to our community."
Here's the Open Restaurants seating program, provided by the DOT:
CURBSIDE SEATING
Once Phase 2 of reopening begins, restaurants in commercial corridors will be able to serve patrons outdoors in alignment with State guidelines. Restaurants will be able to convert parking spaces in order to use the roadbed alongside the curb for dine-in service. There will be a simple process to register and self-certify online.
Guidelines restaurants must comply with include, but are not limited to, ensuring seating is accessible, bus stops or fire hydrants are not blocked, and seating is located away from intersections. Restaurants must provide their own vertical barricades, planters, tables, and chairs.
OPEN STREETS
There are currently over 45 miles of Open Streets across the city, with continued plans to reach a goal of 100 miles citywide. Restaurants will be able to create seating areas directly in front of their establishments on these Open Streets. The City will also identify new Open Streets on commercial strips with large number of restaurants and bars as it continues to roll out new corridors in the coming weeks and months.
SIDEWALK SEATING
The City will work to create a simpler, streamlined process for sidewalk seating that would require establishments to maintain appropriate clear paths for pedestrians and people with disabilities.
The City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Department of Transportation will monitor the success of this three-pronged program and will be prepared to step in if it creates concerns for accessibility or socially distanced use of the sidewalk, curb lane, or streets.
Tagged
COVID-19
reopening
outdoor dining
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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