New regulations for outdoor dining in New York are in effect, and thousands of outdoor dining sheds may face demolition
2024-08-08
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[Global Times Comprehensive Report] After the large-scale outbreak of the new crown epidemic, customers in New York City were prohibited from gathering indoors. In order to maintain open space and keep a safe distance, the city government gave the green light to local restaurants, allowing the dining area to be expanded to the sidewalk or road ("Open Restaurant" plan). But according to a latest plan by the city, thousands of outdoor dining sheds may face demolition. The Associated Press reported on the 7th that the era of free outdoor dining in New York City has ended.
According to information released by the New York City authorities, restaurants with outdoor dining facilities must apply for the "New York Outdoor Dining" program before the end of the day on August 3. Once the application is approved, the restaurant must bring its outdoor facilities into compliance with the design requirements of the new program within 30 days or before November 1 of this year (whichever is earlier). It is worth noting that outdoor roadside cafes are only open for 8 months a year (i.e., they must be demolished from December to April of the following year), but sidewalk cafes can be open all year round. In addition, outdoor sheds must meet uniform design standards and pay thousands of dollars in licensing fees each year depending on the area and location. The regulations state that for non-compliant sheds, a fine of $500 will be imposed for the first violation, and a fine of $1,000 will be imposed for each subsequent violation until the non-compliant facilities are demolished.
The New York City government believes that the plan "preserves New Yorkers' love of outdoor dining while addressing important quality of life issues, making outdoor dining more convenient, safer and more attractive." But according to relevant reports, local catering businesses do not agree so much. Relevant data show that less than 3,000 restaurants have applied for outdoor construction on roads or sidewalks, which is only a small part of the 13,000 restaurants that have participated in the temporary "open restaurant" program since 2020. At the same time, about half of the applicants decided to abandon roadside sheds in favor of sidewalk facilities. Many restaurant owners believe that the new regulations are destined to destroy the historical traces left by the epidemic. They said that the new plan rules are cumbersome and cumbersome to operate, and the cost of building and renovating outdoor sheds is a considerable expense, and the government has not introduced relevant measures to make up for their lost income during the winter shed demolition.
According to the report, a restaurant owner who applied for the new plan said that outdoor dining accounts for 40% of her total income, but her current shed does not meet the new construction regulations, so she has to spend $10,000 to $20,000 to rebuild it. Even if she obtains a permit for the new plan, her annual income will be reduced by 20% due to seasonal regulations for outdoor dining. Another restaurant owner, Hyde, said: "We are not architects, we are just restaurant managers."
In addition to businesses, the public's reactions are also different. Those who oppose outdoor sheds say that these outdoor facilities occupy parking spaces and public roads, make noise and attract a lot of rats and pests. The implementation of the new plan is conducive to creating a good urban environment. But customers who like to patronize such restaurants believe that some sheds have become very exquisite through expansion and decoration, providing a good dining experience. Rigid, executive director of the New York City Hotel Industry Alliance, said that the city government should seriously study why so few restaurants have applied and consider how much it costs to demolish, store and rebuild these buildings each year, rather than "cutting across the board." (Lin Xi)
