SUPPORTING HOBOKEN RESTAURANTS
Small business owners around the country are barely hanging on, waiting out the federal government to provide the loans they promised. In Hoboken, these small business owners are our neighbors and friends. We all have our favorite restaurants, pizza joints, bakeries, eateries, delis, coffee shops and so on. We want them to survive.
Grassroots efforts to support our food businesses range from the single household that orders take-out, to the amazing Front Line Appreciation Group of Hoboken and Jersey City (FLAG). FLAG feeds front line workers with orders from Hoboken and Jersey City restaurants. Last Thursday, FLAG ordered 149 dinners from Hoboken's Cafe Michelina to serve front liners at the Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC) and Hoboken University Medical Center (HUMC), the next night they ordered 660 tacos from Hoboken's Tastebud for JCMC, HUMC and Christ Hospital. FLAG is all-volunteer, people-powered. Donations are what keeps them going.
CITY COUNCIL SIDEWALK CAFE PROPOSAL
On the subject of economic relief to Hoboken's food businesses, the Hoboken City Council has two agenda items up for a vote at next Wednesday's meeting. One of them is a proposed ordinance which anticipates the reopening of local restaurants with reduced interior seating. As a way to recapture lost seating, the ordinance proposes carving it out of existing adjacent exterior space:parking lanes or bike lanes, on a case-by-case basis.
How does it work?
There are three proposed accommodations- see each below with respective satellite map. The proposed zone of new table seating is highlighted. Proposed seating only applies to the area directly in front of each restaurant.
On Washington street, proposed outdoor seating in the parking lane has no buffer against oncoming traffic except for a painted bike lane. In other locations, there may or may not be a buffer, putting diners adjacent to oncoming traffic. My opinion: DANGEROUS
This next scenario utilizes the sidewalks, and is limited to establishments located across the street from a municipal park. "6 foot egress" must be maintained, but the ordinance is unclear where- on the sidewalk? Rerouted off the sidewalk? Into the parking lane? It works if the sidewalk is sufficiently wide. Otherwise, rerouting pedestrians into oncoming traffic... My opinion: PEDESTRIANS MUST NOT BE REROUTED OFF THE SIDEWALK.
In this scenario, the Sinatra Drive bike lane between First and Fourth streets will be interspersed with restaurant seating. Restaurant waiters and waitresses will traverse Sinatra Drive, an active road, to serve patrons and service tables. Dining tables will be in the path of bicyclists, who would either dismount or ride around tables. My opinion: DANGEROUS for restaurant wait staff crossing Sinatra Drive, carrying food, etc.
What do you think?
In my opinion, this ordinance is well-intentioned but weighs private economic benefit against public safety. I wouldn't vote for it!
UP ON THE ROOF
An idea I would like the City to consider are the post-pandemic benefits of rooftop dining. That is not a cheap or easy solution, but if our urban density does not allow seating to go outward into the street, then what about upward. With sufficient setbacks, rooftop seating won't be an eyesore.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE TEMPORARILY UPDATING SIDEWALK CAFE REGULATIONS TO ASSIST QUALIFYING ESTABLISHMENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
DONATE TO FLAG:
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| Last Thursday and Friday's dinners ordered from Hoboken restaurants to feed our hospital front-liners! |
CITY COUNCIL SIDEWALK CAFE PROPOSAL
On the subject of economic relief to Hoboken's food businesses, the Hoboken City Council has two agenda items up for a vote at next Wednesday's meeting. One of them is a proposed ordinance which anticipates the reopening of local restaurants with reduced interior seating. As a way to recapture lost seating, the ordinance proposes carving it out of existing adjacent exterior space:parking lanes or bike lanes, on a case-by-case basis.
How does it work?
There are three proposed accommodations- see each below with respective satellite map. The proposed zone of new table seating is highlighted. Proposed seating only applies to the area directly in front of each restaurant.
On Washington street, proposed outdoor seating in the parking lane has no buffer against oncoming traffic except for a painted bike lane. In other locations, there may or may not be a buffer, putting diners adjacent to oncoming traffic. My opinion: DANGEROUS
This next scenario utilizes the sidewalks, and is limited to establishments located across the street from a municipal park. "6 foot egress" must be maintained, but the ordinance is unclear where- on the sidewalk? Rerouted off the sidewalk? Into the parking lane? It works if the sidewalk is sufficiently wide. Otherwise, rerouting pedestrians into oncoming traffic... My opinion: PEDESTRIANS MUST NOT BE REROUTED OFF THE SIDEWALK.
In this scenario, the Sinatra Drive bike lane between First and Fourth streets will be interspersed with restaurant seating. Restaurant waiters and waitresses will traverse Sinatra Drive, an active road, to serve patrons and service tables. Dining tables will be in the path of bicyclists, who would either dismount or ride around tables. My opinion: DANGEROUS for restaurant wait staff crossing Sinatra Drive, carrying food, etc.
What do you think?
In my opinion, this ordinance is well-intentioned but weighs private economic benefit against public safety. I wouldn't vote for it!
UP ON THE ROOF
An idea I would like the City to consider are the post-pandemic benefits of rooftop dining. That is not a cheap or easy solution, but if our urban density does not allow seating to go outward into the street, then what about upward. With sufficient setbacks, rooftop seating won't be an eyesore.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE TEMPORARILY UPDATING SIDEWALK CAFE REGULATIONS TO ASSIST QUALIFYING ESTABLISHMENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
May-06 Hoboken City Council... by GrafixAvenger on Scribd
WHEREAS, most of the restaurants in town are on Washington Street, a County road, and,
ReplyDeleteWHEREAS, the Council of the City of Hoboken has no unilateral authority over County Roads, and,
WHEREAS, council members DeFusco and Fisher haven't done their homework on this, as it would require displacing too many cars at a time when Hoboken residents must isolate, and,
WHEREAS, there's an 8:00 curfew, so restaurants would see little benefit.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Fisher shall be recalled for dereliction of duty, and DeFusco removed for not attending meetings.