NEW YORK – November 29 is the last day for restaurants in New York City removing roadside eaterieswhich will now be seasonal according to new rules of the municipal council.
Under the new Dining Out NYC program, eligible dining establishments can remain on the sidewalk, but the permanent roadway sheds must go. From April through November, street dining is permitted, but only as lightweight, portable, open-air structures.
NYC officials say new regulations will address quality of life issues
The mayor’s office estimates that temporary outdoor dining at the height of the pandemic helped millions of New Yorkers and saved 100,000 jobs.
A council spokesperson said:
“The permanent outdoor dining program strikes the right balance for restaurants, neighborhoods and New Yorkers to continue outdoor dining in a system where the laws apply now and no pandemic-related emergency exists. The purpose of the temporary emergency program was to take action quickly during a pandemic to save restaurants that could not operate at full capacity indoors by lifting most legal restrictions, but the city now has a new legal program that allows street cafes and expands eligibility for outdoor cafes that did not exist permanently before COVID. This new permanent program has created more uniform regulations, expands the areas where participation in the program is allowed, and has made the cost cheaper than the version that existed by law before the emergency pandemic program, that roadside dining did not allow it and existed practically only in Manhattan, with about 1,400 restaurants. terraces As with any law, its implementation and the rules set by the relevant authority are important factors in its success. In this case, DOT has determined many of the details regarding the application process and regulations for structures. The Council’s position remains unchanged that the agency charged with implementing outdoor dining must be able to work effectively with our city’s restaurants for this program to be successful.
The city’s Department of Transportation will weigh the implementation, taking into account public concerns about parking, noise and rats. DOT encourages restaurant owners to seek information on the Dining Out NYC website.
In a statement, DOT said:
“NYC DOT is committed to making it as easy as possible to participate in Dining Out NYC by connecting restaurants to a range of resources to help them participate and work to significantly reduce the costs of the pre-pandemic outdoor dining program. Thousands of restaurants have already signed up and we look forward to expanding the program throughout its first full season.”
“We’ve heard from the community. We know communities are saying, ‘We support this program, but you, New York City, take care of the quality of life,'” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.
The DOT says restaurants that are not in compliance by Nov. 29 could face fines of up to $1,000 per violation.
“I lost 50 percent of my restaurant overnight”
At Nick’s Bistro in Forest Hills, there’s little excitement about the change.
“I lost 50 percent of my restaurant overnight,” says operations manager Tom Avallone.
Avalone says the expanded shed at Nick’s Bistro was a long-term investment.
“In the winter we had heating elements there. We had sliding windows that could be opened and closed. We installed partitions,” he said.
He says some regulars with health issues still prefer to eat outside.
“Now it’s gone,” he said.
He says it’s a crushing blow ahead of the holidays. He fears that the limited income will force him to lay off loyal staff.
“I feel hurt and I feel sadness, a lot of sadness,” he said.
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Elle McLogan
