By: Hellen Zaboulani
Close to two long years ago, the pandemic first struck, shuttering businesses and changing life as we know it here in the ‘City That Never Sleeps’. Tourism was brought to a halt, foot traffic became a thing of the past, and indoor venues were considered risky. To survive, restaurants creatively constructed outdoor sheds, where people could sit and dine adhering to social distancing protocols. The city designated New York City walkways and sidewalks for restaurant seating use. Now, as we embark on the road of return to normalcy, the question of the outdoor huts was deliberated.
As per the NY Post, the City Council almost unanimously approved a zoning change that will make the outdoor seating permanent. On late Thursday, the council voted 43 to 6 to allow restaurants to keep an outdoor dining option, although there will be changes from the pandemic era. It is being called the first step in giving restaurants the added outdoor option, and enabling the eateries to maximize their seating space. There will be guidelines that are closer to the pre-pandemic era and clear rules about how and where to set up the sidewalk cafes moving forward. The city will charge for the permits. The regulatory framework is still being negotiated, the council said.
“As our city seeks to recover, this zoning change is the first step in creating a permanent program that is better organized and regulated, more equitable, and balances the health of our restaurants with the needs of local neighborhoods,” said newly-minted Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens). The vote had one member who abstained. The 6 members who voted against the outdoor structures included: Councilmembers James Gennaro (D-Queens), Robert Holden (D-Queens), Ari Kagan (D-Brooklyn), Darlene Mealy (D-Brooklyn), Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) and Kalman Yeger (D-Brooklyn).
The post-pandemic outdoor seating will have changes—most prominently the nixing of the controversial “sheds”. Officials at the Department of Transportation, which spearheaded and manage the program, announced that the changes will remove many of the enclosed dining sheds—rather sticking with the open sidewalk seating option. Local critics have long condemned the sheds saying they are often poorly built and unstable. Other complaints say the sheds lead to more noise, garbage and rodents in the neighborhoods.
