Build Back Victoria Supports Local Business and has been extended until October 2021
The spring and summer program will launch in early June and include new streetscape features and a pedestrian-priority zone. The timed daily closure will create inviting public space for pedestrians, cyclists and pedicabs in the afternoon and evening while still allowing for vehicle circulation, commercial pick-up and delivery functions. New loading zones and accessible parking stalls will also be installed on and adjacent to the corridor. Accessibility in flex spaces will also be a priority. New features include picnic tables and benches, planters and flowers, gateway improvements, signage and playable street elements like public seating that doubles as performance platforms. These treatments advance Council’s strategic objective for creating a pedestrian-priority Government Street and will inform the longer-term streetscape design. Learn more victoria.ca/bizresources
The City of Kitchener has extended its patio program to support local bar and restaurant operators to at least January 1, 2021.
Should the Province permit temporary patios beyond January 1, the City will also permit the continuation of patios. The now extended patio program allows bar and restaurant operators the opportunity to offer food services on temporary outdoor patios city-wide and expanded sidewalks patios downtown Kitchener. Since the launch of the patio program over 60 local operators have extended or added temporary outdoor patios to their establishments.
Toronto’s outdoor dining guidelines
The CaféTO program aims to provide more outdoor dining areas to help some restaurants and bars create physical distancing for patrons on patios during the summer months. A CaféTO Placement Guidebook has been created to better understand program requirements and other details necessary. Link provides details on requirements for curb lane patios, patios on private property, use of portable heaters & tents/enclosures.
Vancouver-based survey to solicit ideas to help make streets for people during COVID-19 recovery.
We are making temporary changes to our streets to help residents physically distance and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 to our communities by:
- Room to Move. Repurposing street space for more walking, rolling, and cycling along Beach Ave.
- Pop-up Plazas. Creating pop-up plazas so people can gather outside
- Temporary Patios. Approving temporary patios so people can dine out and businesses can continue to serve customers
- Sidewalk Widening. Making more room for walking and queuing along busy streets
- Room to Queue. Making more room to line up and board buses at some key bus stops
- Slow Streets. Calming traffic to make ‘slow streets’ more comfortable for people walking, rolling, and cycling
These measures also support our ongoing effort to create safer streets, limit the effects of climate change, and increase social connection between residents. We are monitoring the impacts of these initiatives and getting feedback from the public to understand what could become longer term.
Results from surveys of Montreal’s pedestrian streets and « pandemic tracks » show that residents are in favour
The City conducted a web survey & also randomly interviewed people in the street. The “pandemic tracks”, these protected cycle paths installed on major arteries in the city, have garnered a very high level of support to the tune of 80%+, despite demonstrations by businesses in some spots. The pedestrianization of certain commercial arteries for the summer period was also greatly appreciated, shows the same survey – between 74 to 83%.This includes the allowances made so that restaurant owners could enlarge their terraces to enable more outdoor seating.
The City of Chicago’s 2020 Winter Dining Challenge: the 60 Innovative Designs
A jury evaluated the submissions based on feasibility, accessibility, health considerations, material and installation costs, inclusivity, climate comfort, sustainability, and flexibility. A key design principle is making sure the finalists are not only scalable for large and small establishments, but also cost effective for businesses already struggling from the impact of the pandemic. Running a restaurant in the time of COVID requires creativity and consistency to keep everyone healthy. Still, a willingness to pivot and try new off-premise options will help operators execute these restaurant innovations for COVID and stay afloat.
A restaurant in St. Jacobs, ON is using domes on their outdoor patio to keep patrons warm and physically distanced for colder weather
Patrons are confined within a social bubble inside of the dome. Each dome can hold up to eight people and no mixing of social bubbles are allowed.
Adapting Public Spaces During COVID-19: 3 Examples of Tactical Urbanism Projects
City of Ottawa extending patio season to December 31
The city is coming up with a plan for winter that will see snowbanks removed quicker than usual in high-traffic curbside pickup areas, such as Wellington West, Montreal Road, Elgin Street, St. Joseph Boulevard and Bank Street.
Design for Distancing installations encourage social distancing in fun, artsy ways in Baltimore’s commercial districts
Station North is designated as an arts district in Baltimore, known for its restaurants, theaters and art galleries. A patio installation has been created to be used as outdoor dining space for the nearby restaurants. There’s also a bright blue promenade behind the seating area so people can walk around diners, instead of weaving their way through tables set up on the sidewalk.
Parks activation tactical toolkit for outdoor dining
Bars and restaurants will take their operations to the streets this summer, under a multi-million dollar package designed to prop up Melbourne’s ailing hospitality sector.
Another $30 million will go towards running events and cultural activities safely over coming months, offering a much-needed salve to Melbourne’s arts community.
Winterlab is a Quebec-based initiative to create winter city conditions
This winter will be special and the solution to isolation will be through the design of a multitude of small places that we will want to frequent despite the cold. From now on, let’s buy good boots and a suitable coat in our local shops, because let’s hope that the next winter can be one of the places where we can create human warmth.
The City of Chicago is seeking solutions to stimulate and encourage safe outdoor dining, for both customers and restaurant/bar staff, during cold weather months
- Solutions must be centered around facilitating in-person outdoor dining experiences, rather than delivery or take out
- Solutions may relate to physical space as well as operations/service
- Winning solutions are eligible to receive a $5,000 cash prize. A total of three winners will be chosen.
- Selected ideas are eligible to access potential piloting opportunities that will be funded by corporate sponsors. Building on the success of the outdoor dining program, the City of Chicago will be piloting this in many areas, including those in the INVEST South/West program for prototyping.
In Winnipeg, the conversion of a parking lot offers a European style open air dining and drinking experience in the heart of the Exchange District
A restaurant owner coordinated the smart phone food ordering system, which has Patio “runners” deployed to pick up orders and deliver them right to the table.
DineOut Tool Kit is a downloadable dining module for street patios developed in NYC
Launched at the iconic Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem, the prototype can accommodate a range of restaurants and street conditions. DineOut NYC is being deployed at restaurants and bars in diverse neighborhoods across the five boroughs, using parking spaces and sidewalks.
A group of small businesses get together to finances to create and manage a new community patio, beer garden and food hub for physical distancing in a parking lot
Called Gerrard East Market, it comes with two decks, picnic tables, umbrellas, an outdoor screen showing sports, lighting and 22 tonnes of sand.
#RestartSmartVancouver includes additional pop-up plaza and temporary patio applications
This week, Vancouver unveiled their latest pop-up plazas, approved additional patio permits, and rolled out temporary changes to Granville Street.
The City of Victoria’s move to allow businesses to build patios on street “flex spaces” may continue past the pandemic.
Victoria’s downtown business association says it will be a key to keep the dollars tourists usually bring flowing. And that the impact will be far beyond just those with patios.
The City has implemented a number of initiatives to support local businesses and the community to reopen and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including $575,000 in economic stimulus grants.
The City’s webpage includes guides to reopening, virtual town halls, links to applications for grants, etc.
Transforming a Restaurant into an Outdoor Market using simple furniture designs
A restaurant in Dallas is coping with the pandemic by leveraging Better Block’s approach to adaptive urbanism. The Better Block crew had constructed several wooden market stalls that were going to be used for a pop-up outdoor market in the Allen project. Now, they’ve used them to turn Oddfellows into an actual outdoor market, stocking the shelves with the restaurant’s stock and selling neighbors staples that may be difficult to find at the stores that remain open.
The City of Vancouver launches its Temporary Expedited Patio Program
This free program will allow restaurants and liquor-serving establishments to create temporary patios on streets, on-street parking spaces, or sidewalks either in front of or adjacent to their venues.To hasten the process, template patio drawings are being offered and a staff team has been dedicated to reviewing the applications. Permits will be issued within two business days for applications that meet requirements.
Toronto’s ‘rescue operation’ for restaurants includes fast-tracked approvals, more space for patio dining
Called “CafeTO”, the city program is identifying sidewalk and right-of-way space, including “parklets,” adjacent to bars and restaurants that can be made available for outdoor dining with physical distancing to ensure minimal chance of virus infection. The normal patio approval process will be dramatically streamlined, city council will be asked to waive fees, and the Ontario government is agreeing to help quickly address any liquor licensing issues
Patios Everywhere program will help local restaurants reopen safely in Barrie
This program is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will support local restaurants by providing flexibility to restaurant owners while at the same time ensuring safety standards and measures remain in place. The Patios Everywhere Program is intended to address patios that are outside of the downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA).
Nanaimo approves on-street patios, sidewalk seating
Nanaimo councillors agreed to reallocate $25,000 from the city’s downtown event grants budget toward the program.
Réinventer l’utilisation de l’espace public lors d’une pandémie à Montréal
Le mouvement de re reprendre les rues de Montréal pour les piétons en cette période de distanciation sociale se répand rapidement à travers la ville. Des zones sans voiture, en passant par les rues familiales et les superblocs, Montréal, comme de nombreuses villes du monde, réinvente l’utilisation de l’espace public lors de cette pandémie à un rythme sans précédent.
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