Amendment would tighten sidewalk cafe regulations within Harlem’s Special 125th Street District to address local congestion concerns. On June 7, 2011, the City Council’s Land Use Committee approved the Department of City Planning’s proposal to modify sidewalk cafe regulations within the Special 125th Street District in Harlem, Manhattan. The Special District comprises 24 blocks of East, Central, and West Harlem generally bounded by 126th Street to the north, 124th Street to the south, Second Avenue to the east, and Broadway to the west. All types of sidewalk cafes are currently permitted within the Special District, which was created in 2008 as part of the 125th Street rezoning plan to encourage local arts and entertainment uses, and to ensure that future development along the corridor respected the area’s built character. 5 CityLand 53 (May 15, 2008).

The proposed sidewalk amendment is a response to community concerns expressed during the Special 125th Street District rezoning’s public review regarding the impact of outdoor cafes on sidewalks with high pedestrian traffic. (read more…)