Outdoor dining at American Brass in Long Island City (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Oct. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin
The City Council passed a bill today to extend New York City’s outdoor dining program through next September — and at that point make a variation of it permanent.
The legislation extends the current outdoor dining program called “Open Restaurants” until Sept. 30, 2021. The current program allows eateries to serve customers on sidewalks, curbsides and select streets.
The program will then be replaced on Sept. 30, 2021 by a new plan that will also allow the use of roadway seating as outdoor dining areas, the legislation states.
The legislation also allows the use of portable electric and propane heaters in outdoor dining areas, subject to guidelines issued by the FDNY.
Outdoor dining will now be a permanent fabric of NYC culture. Thank you to the NYC Council and @NYCSpeakerCoJo for making that happen. Now let’s continue to support our businesses!
— Antonio Reynoso (@ReynosoBrooklyn) October 15, 2020
The newly-passed bill, sponsored by Ridgewood Council Member Antonio Reynoso, essentially codifies an earlier announcement by Mayor Bill de Blasio into law. The mayor announced Sept. 25 that the Open Restaurants program would be permanent.
The Queens Chamber of Commerce applauded the City Council for voting to make outdoor dining permanent, which it said would help struggling restaurant owners stay afloat.
“Outdoor dining has not just been a hit with restaurant goers, it has allowed our cherished neighborhood establishments to keep New Yorkers employed and bring in some desperately needed revenue,” said Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Grech. “We are delighted that the program has been made permanent.”
5 Comments
So if I order soup and Im outdoor will I have to have it reheated bc its cold outside ? Not sure if I like to order a steak ? Lets leave outdoor out its too cold
This is just so the city can eventually charge you for the space. Dont kid yourself it wont be cheap. I owned a bar in Astoria and they wanted over 12k a year for a space 8’x4′ and i dont sell food. Its a set up.
they are all wrapped in plastic to keep out the cold, how stupid are these people? Gonna be interesting when snow plow make snow mounds against them, there will be no room for cars to pass. Fires from makeshift heating coming…. Politicians are so proud of themselves today for this brilliant idea.
This has crowded sidewalks in Sunnyside with restaurants on 43rd Avenue having planters on the block as well. You have to walk past this lunacy single file. Now they’re going to have propane heaters for their tents, I see fires in the future.
So many restaurants and bars are setting up outdoor tents to accommodate outdoor dining. I feel like i am walking through a noisy and dirty street festival when i visit my sister in Astoria.