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Berkeley May Open Huge Outdoor Dining Rooms

City streets and parking lots may be converted to vast outdoor cafes. Will SF be next?
By - posted 5/15/2020 No Comment

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Thanks to Eater SF for letting us know that the city of Berkeley is trying to move forward with a plan to take over street and parking lot space to create big outdoor dining rooms to help restaurants reopen in this socially-distant times.

Inspired by the Lithuanian capital of Vilinus, which is turning its plazas, streets and squares into vast outdoor cafes, Berkeley is proposing to completely close certain city streets to allow people to go out, be safe and enjoy local restaurants.

The city will be looking at “wide sidewalks, street medians, building curtilages, surface lots, public parking areas, and parks” which can be converted into open-air dining areas and may waive associated permits/fees as long as the businesses comply with Berkeley health guidelines.

Berkeleyside reports that the “Berkeley Safe Open Air Dining (.doc)” proposal will be put in front of the Berkeley City Council for consideration on June 2.

Other Bay Area Cities Outdoor Dining Plans

  • San Jose has a similar plan for utilizing streets and sidewalks for “al fresco” outdoor dining.
  • According to NBC Bay Area, San Mateo is also looking at a plan to close two streets to turn into outdoor dining areas.
  • In San Francisco, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association is trying to get the city to allow restaurants to take over open spaces according to Eater.

Read More: Eater SF | Chronicle | Berkeleyside