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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Evolution of outdoor dining programs in New York City
1:28:45
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3 min
Forgione outlines the evolution of outdoor dining in New York City, from pre-pandemic sidewalk cafes to the emergency Open Restaurants program during COVID-19, and finally to the permanent Dining Out NYC program. She highlights the importance and popularity of outdoor dining during the pandemic and its impact on the city's restaurants and streetscape.
- Describes the pre-pandemic sidewalk cafe program managed by DCWP
- Details the emergency Open Restaurants program and its role in saving businesses
- Mentions the transition to a permanent program through Local Law 121 of 2023
- Acknowledges both the benefits and challenges of the temporary program
Margaret Forgione
1:28:45
During the pandemic, New Yorkers came to enjoy and appreciate outdoor dining in new ways.
1:28:50
It was not only a critical lifeline for many restaurants and small businesses when indoor dining was prohibited, but it contributed to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods and improved the dining experience for so many people, especially on warm sunny days.
1:29:03
As the pandemic ended, New York City DOT worked closely with the city council to make outdoor dining a permanent part of our city's streetscape, and we are pleased that the council did so when it passed local law one hundred twenty one of twenty twenty three.
1:29:16
The law created seasonal roadway dining, preserved year round sidewalk dining, and provided the framework for the future of outdoor dining.
1:29:24
Just as we did during the emergency program, DOT has worked hard to help as many restaurants participate in the program as possible.
1:29:31
Three weeks ago, DOT launched the first season of Dining Out NYC.
1:29:36
There were over 2,500 restaurants authorized to operate, including every restaurant that applied by the 08/03/2024 deadline and completed any required steps.
1:29:46
While a new program and rules brings new realities for restaurants, we are encouraged that the program is already well over double the size of the city's pre pandemic program, is the largest outdoor dining program in the country, and has a similar participation rate to Paris, which also recently made elements of its outdoor dining program seasonal.
1:30:06
Our team has been working tirelessly to get us to this point, and we are proud of all that we have achieved so far.
1:30:13
Now to give some background on how we got here.
1:30:15
The city's outdoor dining program has gone through several iterations.
1:30:19
First, the pre pandemic sidewalk cafe program managed by DCWP, then the pandemic era temporary outdoor dining program authorized by mayoral emergency executive orders, and now the permanent dining out NYC program created in response to local law one twenty one of 2023.
1:30:37
With each iteration, we have built on lessons learned and took bold steps to reimagine the use of public space.
1:30:44
In the pre pandemic era, around 1,200 restaurants participated in the sidewalk cafe program managed by DCWP.
1:30:51
Restaurants were allowed to extend their dining onto the sidewalk as an unenclosed or in certain cases, an enclosed cafe.
1:30:58
Cafes complied with zoning resolution, which prohibited sidewalk cafes entirely in many neighborhoods and on certain corridors.
1:31:06
They also had to comply with a building code, obtain revocable consent through DCWP, obtain approval from city planning, and approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission depending on the location of the restaurant.
1:31:19
These regulations were confusing and restrictive, creating barriers to small businesses trying to participate in the program, especially in the outer boroughs.
1:31:28
Then in 2020, the COVID nineteen pandemic brought us challenges unlike any we had seen before.
1:31:34
The necessity of closing indoor dining for most of 2020 meant that restaurants were particularly impacted by the pandemic, losing thousands of staff and in many cases closing permanently.
1:31:45
Balancing public health guidelines and the need to save the city's beloved restaurant industry, the city rapidly created a temporary open restaurant program so New Yorkers could safely dine outside.
1:31:56
The program reimagined the use of public space to bring restaurant dining to streets and sidewalks across the city.
1:32:02
During the peak of the pandemic, the had between 14,000 restaurants participating and saved 100,000 jobs.
1:32:11
The temporary program was free for restaurants, suspended most pre existing sidewalk cafe requirements, and allowed restaurants to self certify that they met the temporary program's requirements, all with the goal of encouraging as many restaurants to participate as quickly as possible.
1:32:28
While the program was overwhelmingly popular, it also brought around about numerous quality of life concerns around noise and sanitation, among other issues.