The permanent expansion of outdoor dining will be done in conjunction with the Open Streets initiative, the mayor said, noting that 87 streets are participating.
To date, more than 10,000 eateries are part of the Open Restaurants initiative, the mayor said. Restaurants will have the opportunity to expand seating outside adjacent properties, as long as property owners formally agree to the use of the space for a specified period of time and commit to not charging a fee for its use. The Department of Transportation will issue applications for expanded seating in adjacent areas in the weeks ahead, the mayor said.
Restaurants will be allowed to use tent enclosures to keep patrons warm during cold weather. In partial tent enclosures, at least 50% of the tent’s side-wall area will have to remain open; electrical heaters will be allowed. In full tent enclosures, the tent’s side walls may be closed, but occupancy limitations will be capped at 25% of capacity. The city will impose indoor-dining guidelines in full tent enclosures, in other words.
Electrical heaters will be allowed on sidewalks and roadways. Propane and natural-gas heaters will be allowed on sidewalks but will remain prohibited in roadway seating. The city is expected to release more guidance on heaters in the coming days.
The move comes as indoor dining is set to resume Sept. 30 at 25% capacity.
