The new logo for Dining Out NYC, the city’s new permanent outdoor dining program. Image Credit: New York City Mayor’s Office.
On August 16, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams signed Int. 31-C, establishing a permanent outdoor dining program. The permanent program, now called “Dining Out NYC,” allows for permanent sidewalk dining year-round and roadway dining seasonally from April to November. (more…)
Roadway dining will be allowed under the new program but only seasonally. Sidewalk and roadway cafes must have removable furniture and equipment, instead of the dining shed structures that caused much controversy over the past few years. Image Credit: NYC DOT
After a year and a half since the bill was introduced, the Council finally votes to create a permanent outdoor dining program. On August 3, 2023, the City Council voted to approve Int 31-C, which establishes a permanent outdoor dining program. The program will allow sidewalk cafes to operate annually and roadway cafes to operate seasonally, with removable furniture and decor replacing solid dining shed structures. The program follows the temporary outdoor dining program that removed barriers for restaurants to incorporate outdoor sidewalk and roadway dining during the pandemic. The bill was sponsored by Council Member Marjorie Velázquez, Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. (more…)
Image Credit: New York City Department of Transportation
The report uses data aggregated by Department of Finance to highlight the economic benefits of open streets laws. On October 25, 2022, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the release of Streets for Recovery, a report on Open Streets policy developed in collaboration with Bloomberg Associates. This first-in-the-nation report uses Department of Finance data to highlight the economic benefits of Open Streets during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (more…)
Examples of freestanding gas heaters. Image Credit: NYC DOB
Three heating options were unveiled. On October 14, 2020, Mayor de Blasio on behalf of the Department of Buildings, Department of Transportation, and Fire Department of New York released guidelines for restaurants staying open for outdoor dining during the fall and winter. These new guidelines align with Mayor de Blasio’s recovery agenda to set New York City up to be the world’s capital for healthy outdoor living. This is not the first time New York City has reimagined its use of open spaces. In the 19th century, following a Cholera outbreak, the City began a period of open space creation that lead to the development of Central Park. (more…)
Mayor Bill de Blasio. Image credit: CityLand
The program will allow for outdoor dining until October 31st. As part of the City’s efforts to reopen and protect New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier this month the City announced an expansion of outdoor dining options in connection with the Open Streets program. (more…)
