New Yorkers are getting a tantalizing glimpse of the new modular outdoor dining sheds that could change the city’s al fresco dining scene.
City officials are pushing new blueprints to help restaurants put up structures that are more attractive than the unpopular Covid dining sheds that are being taken down, and that still abide by regulations.
Transportation officials claim that the next generation of outdoor dining structures will be easier to clean, repair, and remove from public spaces between November and April. The new designs will likely cost around tens of thousands of dollars, according to official estimates.
On Tuesday, the city Department of Transportation showcased four of the colorful model sheds outside restaurants in Manhattan and Queens. The sheds are also wheelchair-accessible and made up of parts that can easily be disassembled.
Last year, the city council passed legislation that mandated new requirements for the sheds and codified outdoor dining for the first time. The measures taken faced some criticism for eliminating outdoor dining during the winter season, as the empty street spaces were decidedly returned to being parking spots.
However, DOT officials said restaurant owners can now access a “kit of parts” guide drafted by two local design firms to build similar sheds of their own, without following every guideline exactly. They have the ability to retrofit existing sheds to meet the new regulations.
The DOT also argued that the new designs cost the same as the existing sheds but use better materials that will last longer and be simpler to repair.
According to the new rules, outdoor dining on the sidewalk or the street must close by midnight, the roadway cafes must be modular, and they must be stored during the winter.
Restaurants will now also have to pay a fee to have outdoor dining, with a four-year license costing $1,050 for a roadway or sidewalk permit, or $2,100 for both. There’s also an added fee based on the size and location of the restaurant. Any ground-floor restaurant can apply for either or both of these two types of outdoor dining permits.
Owners can start applying for these permits as soon as March 5, as reported by city officials.
