By Gus Saltonstall
It’s almost last call for the temporary outdoor dining sheds still standing throughout the city, including on the Upper West Side.
Restaurants that have not applied for the new Dining Out NYC program, which includes new regulations around what is permissible for roadway and sidewalk outdoor dining setups, need to remove their outdoor dining operations by Saturday, August 3.
Those establishments that do not will face a $500 fine for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense until the setup is removed.
“Businesses offering outdoor dining must apply to participate in Dining Out NYC by the end of the day this Saturday, August 3, or remove their outdoor dining setups,” wrote New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, in a news release. “Outdoor dining enriches our communities, and we’re excited to make it a permanent feature of New York City streets.”
If the restaurants do apply and get approved, they have 30 days from the date of approval to remove their existing, temporary structures, or reconfigure them to fit the new guidelines. The new guidelines no longer allow outdoor dining structures to be fully enclosed or to take up more than a certain amount of the sidewalk or street.
If restaurants have applied by August 3, and eateries still have their application pending on November 1, the existing structures also need to be removed.
November 29 is the end of the roadway dining season under the permanent program, and all roadway setups will need to be removed until the next season in the spring.
There is a $1,050 license fee to cover a four-year license term for roadway or sidewalk setups, or $2,100 for establishments that would like to offer both. Restaurants will also have to pay an annual revocable consent fee based on the location and size of their outdoor dining setup.
You can find out more about the program — HERE.
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Gosh, it’s about time. Filthy rat havens.
I was surprised and excited to see outdoor eating at Tal Bagels the other day
Do we know what UWS restaurants have applied?
Good luck with compliance. Getting restaurants to obey this law will not be easy because it won’t be easy to put effective enforcement into place. It would have been preferable to get rid of the sheds permanently. Now it’s an ongoing administrative enforcement issue plus having ugly structures all over the city.
Looking forward to seeing Amsterdam Avenue in the seventies stripped bare of these filthy eyesores-except for Nice Matin, whose shed, like the restaurant itself, is classy.
Every one is a filthy eyesore — except this one! Seems like a rather silly analysis…
I find it remarkable how dogmatic so many commenters are. Not all sheds are eyesores. Though definitely utilitarian above all else, some are actually quite attractive. And they definitely are not all “rat havens.” Geesh.
Yes, they do attract rats. I’ve seen plenty on Amsterdam from 79 to 86.
Plus, there is something to be said for the overall aesthetic of the city, not to mention sidewalk congestion.
so excited to see these things come down.
This will be a huge loss for neighborhood restaurants and the UWS.
We lose dining space and gain a few parking spots for NJ residents or those who drive to their weekend homes. HUGE L.
UWS Dad,
If I may inquire?
There are a few “UWS Dad” posters I think?
Are you the poster who favors Open Streets though it forces bus diversion?
I ask because I am confused about your land use and transportation concerns?
It seems that you (as are others) are concerned there are too many cars?
But if so, then shouldn’t mass transit be the priority over closing streets for brunch?
Walk down Amsterdam during the dinner hours some evening. There are tons of empty seats indoors, summer, winter, spring and fall.
There is no shortage of dining space and most of these restaurants have cafe space anyway and no one uses the sheds. There is no longer any economic benefit. If there was, you would see hundreds of restaurants applying instead of the 3 or 4 that have.
“no one uses the sheds”
This is a demonstrably false assertion; I see plenty of people eating in the sheds.
Fewer and fewer. Just take a walk during the dinner hours.
If NJ Transit buses directly served the UWS there will most certainly be A LOT of kvetching by UWS residents
UWS Dad,
Please be aware that many restaurant staff drive in and park.
So it is very possible that the owner or manager or other staff of the restaurants you enjoy are driving in….
Frankly this is a pretty ridiculous assertion, there simply isn’t physically enough space in front of all the restaurants on the UWS & that’s ignoring whether street parking is a good use of NYC real estate (no!). Like most people in the neighborhood, restaurant workers are using public transportation.
The managers of the two UWS restaurants I regularly patronize drive in and park on the street.
Even if the majority of people use public transportation, those who drive are a significant minority and there are many reasons why they drive. You cannot ask for an understanding for using Uber or Lyft on the regular while not extending an understanding to those who drive. I am certain, if you had to venture out to the community where that restaurant worker lives or where that guy in Jersey lives, you would be using an Uber and not public transportation.
Agreed. The loss of these outdoor eateries will also be hard on restaurateurs who’ve struggled to come back after the pandemic. Those that are well kept and agreeable to their neighbors shouldn’t be forced to disassemble.
Longtime – On the West Side, seems to me that the vast majority of restaurants with sheds are restaurants owned by wealthy restaurant groups/LLCs – not struggling “mom and pop”. (Also restaurants got Covid monies.)
Places like Cafe Luxembourg, Tacombi, Jacob’s Pickle and many others seem to be doing quite well….
Local stores and retail are the ones that are struggling
Then let them apply and construct a shed under the revised and improved guidelines.
You clearly have not read the guidelines if you think that they are improved. They required a terrible design that exposes diners to traffic and the elements. Those aspects of the design show a complete ignorance of life in NYC and diminish the value of the sheds. There is nothing “improved” about them. And those design features do nothing to benefit the City while having appealing, protected dining generated employment and tax revenue, and helps the restaurants stay in business, instead of leaving the neighborhood with even more empty storefronts.
“They required a terrible design that exposes diners to traffic and the elements. ”
So people will be required to eat indoors during bad weather just like they always have.
“There is nothing “improved” about them. And those design features do nothing to benefit the City while having appealing, protected dining generated employment and tax revenue, and helps the restaurants stay in business,”
The tax revenue from these is nominal and something of a joke. They are practically a give away. Lastly if your business model is contingent on free usage of public space then you probably don’t have a viable business to begin with. Restaurants managed just fine before the pandemic without these structures.
I actually read the new guidelines extensively when they were released months ago. They are sensible and allow a lighter feel to outdoor dining than what we have now. The bulk and ugliness of many of the current enclosed sheds needs to be eliminated and the new plan does that. If they paid more attention to “life in NYC”, they wouldn’t allow dining sheds in the roadway at all. Dining belongs on the sidewalk or inside.
If someone is going to eat out, they are going to eat out regardless of outdoor dining or not. This program was intended to make restaurants whole during the pandemic, the pandemic is over, the only reason to keep outdoor dining right now is to fight an unwarranted culture war against people who drive. Let us face it, restaurants directly or indirectly benefit from people who drive.
The guidelines are basically designed to be unattractive to restaurants – no sides and no roof allowed (so no rain/sun protection) & have to be taken down and stored for Dec-March each year, where are restaurants supposed to store them? No sense in investing in anything well constructed if they have to be moved each year.
Thank God. While walking the dogs last night, the number of rats running in and out from under the shed at Pappadella was frightening. Those side blocks are seeing an increase in the rat population as well and no one from the Health Department has been in the neighborhood the entire summer.
While some might say it’s a loss for the restaurants, let’s also please acknowledge the fact that some restaurants were able to double their number of tables served daily for several years? Those sheds were a temporary gift. Like a lot of Covid measures. No one can check on the cleanliness or safety of those things. Plus, to be honest, I hope those sidewalk standers I front of A certain pizza place go away or learn the sidewalk is for walkers.
I would prefer removing every shed, whether it’s attractive or not, though virtually all of them are eyesores and unhealthy. I would also like to see enforcement of regulations re outdoor seating. Walking along Amsterdam, as I do every day, Im weaving through diners, parked bikes/scooters, construction etc city life should not be compromised by the greed of restaurants, fast food dives etc. if restaurants can’t make a living without compromising street life-too bad.
I agree completely. Amsterdam Avenue sidewalks are narrow to begin with.The endless sheds, people gathered in clusters waiting outside them for take-out, plus construction, bikes, and scooters, all make safe walking for pedestrians impossible. This is not street-life.It’s a menace.
Still do not understand how the City allowed sheds that blocked building entrances?
For example, Amsterdam between 83rd & 84th Street (west side) is just one shed after another – and block building entrances including one that provides social services
The one across the street from us (Noi Due) has mostly been used for storage and is a real eyesore and verman condo. Plus they keep their garbage cans next to it on the street! I hope it goes down soon as it is not at all attractive with stacked chairs and tables vs. people enjoying a meal.
Noi due is one of a number of businesses with *particular* ownership that do not give a damn about city regulations.
They have made enough money to not just keep their one restaurant afloat, but open up a second one and rent out an administrative office.
Wild how people seem to think taking these down will somehow eliminate the rat population in NYC. Most of the outdoor dining areas are great. It’s nice seeing people out and about enjoying themselves. If you’re afraid of rats, that sounds like a personal problem.
Personal problems – of all kinds – clearly abound.
A personal problem???
Give me a break.
Shed the sheds!
As someone who routinely walks their dog late at night after the restaurants have closed, I can assure you that ALL of these sheds and outdoor structures are rat havens and smeared with rat scat. The rats run over tables, chairs, and over any shelved surface in them. I have also seen restaurants occasionally pull back the floor boards to swept underneath and the swampy muck is truly nauseating.
This is rough news for the neighborhood. Some restaurants have set up outdoor commodes for patron emergencies. Do they also need to come down?
Is this for real? If restaurants have set up structures for people relieve themselves outside that should be the first thing to come down. That was never legal even under pandemic rules. That’s just beyond gross.
Also worth remembering – the City did not give small shops and retail any assistance.
Local stores have and continue to struggle with high rents, ecommerce competition, shoplifting.
The City only assisted restaurants – giving free street sheds among other things.
Also, the street dining is not even fair among restaurants – a restaurant by a bus stop or fire hydrant cannot utilize street dining.
Not fair for the City to prioritize and give advantage to restaurants.
This is VERY TRUE. Thank you for stating it. Retail stores got no help whatsoever from the city or PPP money if you were newly opened. It was horrible. We are often overlooked and have the most challenges.
Totally agree now that social distancing isn’t much of an issue. This scheme can’t be continued without proper guidelines and restrictions.
It shouldn’t be continued at ALL.
Please it’s about time. It is not fair to utilize public space just for the benefit of certain businesses. Parking spaces are at least utilizable by everyone first come first served. And remember, people come into neighborhoods and need to park and then can patronize any business.
PS: Full disclosure. I own a car and park it on the street 10% of the time, and 40% of the time in a private garage. The remaining 50% I keep it beyond the city limits.
It’s for the restaurant’s customers too. You can’t compare the individual use of a parking spot to numerous people eating out in the same space.
Eating in a restaurant is WAY more accessible to the general public than owning a car in NYC! Dining sheds are a far better use of the space than parking. Hundreds of people in a week can use the space taken up by 1 car as well.
And I say that as someone who owns a car and lives in NYC 100% of the time, not half the time at the country house.
Owning a car is very accessible to the general public. In fact, there are many parts of NYC where it is almost a necessity. Parking spots get good turnover here on the UWS. In terms of dining outside in a restaurant, that is more of an amenity than people who need to drive here for one reason or another. The fact that people do not cook their own food and rely on speeding e-bike drivers for restaurant food or leave a bunch of pizza boxes in our parks shows outdoor dining is not essential.
Good riddance!!!
I’m sad. I have really enjoyed these, and the additional “street life” they bring (even though some of that street life is not really welcome, except to my dog who would LOVE to catch a rat (don’t worry, I won’t let him anywhere close)).
Prediction: There will be toothless enforcement.
The ostensive purpose of the rat sheds was to allow people to eat in restaurants OUTDOORS in order to maintain social distancing for Covid prevention. The sheds, however, are mostly enclosed structures, offering little or no air circulation, and many, in fact, are MORE contagious environments than the indoor restaurants. Time for them to come down, all! In addition to the points others have noted, the sheds monopolize a full vehicle lane, causing traffic jams, with exhaust build-up affecting all who live above those adjacent restaurants. Since the start of this, I’ve been unable to open my apt windows, as the black soot coming in is far worse than it was before all this.
Do… you think the dining sheds are emitting the exhaust? If the sheds weren’t there it would just be parking. Think your problem here is there are too many cars.
Cars and other vehicles are a lot more environmentally friendly than they were years ago. The people who complain about there being too many cars have no problem with the fact that there are way too many ubers and lyfts on our street, way more than that of medallion cabs.
That’s disappointing, outside dining is so lovely.
I enjoy the dining sheds — the ones that aren’t eyesores. I often see rats, though, at one of them — Tacombi, on 78th and Amsterdam. There are gaps in the flooring, and rats are constantly darting in and out. It seems like an easy fix (unless sealing the gaps would seal up rat dens. Ghastly!).
Rats while dining? Dinner entertainment
Anything that helps restaurants be profitable and thereby stay in business is good as far as I am concerned. Streets are safer and neighborhoods more desirable when there are successful restaurants and bars around. I would way rather see a rat on the street than a mugger. Spoken as someone who remembers the UWS in the 1970’s. Keep the sheds if they are good for business.
Streets are safer and neighborhoods are more desirable when people feel comfortable being in them and feel like there is a place for them here. I do not think we are getting that.
Don’t fret, you can still dine on the sidewalk, like NYC of the “before ” times.
Some really creepy sheds.
https://w42st.com/post/hells-kitchen-nightmare-abandoned-outdoor-dining-shed-infested-with-flies-and-maggots/
I think that’s a wonderful idea, The pandemic is over. It’s something that we don’t want to look back at and be reminded. The sheds are a reminder, like back in 1917, the people didn’t want this in history, not even talk about it, now I know why. 🙏
BUT! It would be better idea if the city would expand and enlarge the sidewalks where the restaurants like in Paris and in Italy can operate more openly and freely in front of their establishment. I’m not gonna miss the sheds. I’ve never eaten in them and never will due to sanitation reasons and what I’ve seen would make your stomach turn. But enlarging a sidewalk to hold more tables and chairs would be fabulous.
wider sidewalks would be amazing!
About time. Pay for your use of public space.
go out at 3am and look at these “sheds”- no matter how clean they are they are hotels for rats.
This was a terrible plan from the start with a new design that must have been stolen from Malibu Beach where there is no rain and no trucks roaring by the tables. Having a shed with a wall between diners and the traffic makes the dining comfortable and not scary. And having a proper roof keeps the rain out. It’s not complicated, but somehow some committee chose the worst possible design for NYC. Plus, people don’t seem to realize that having outdoor seating enables restaurants to not only survive, but serve more diners and hire more staff to do it. That increases employment, tax revenue, and avoids even more empty storefronts. People who don’t like the sheds don’t have to eat in them, but they shouldn’t force restaurants to take them down and reduce options for dining, employment, and tax revenue for everyone else.
Restaurants by and large have plenty of space inside. Restaurants lose out on commercial parking with outdoor dining. Not only that, but there is a thing called oversaturation of restaurants too. Restaurants get plenty of money from people placing take out orders too. Many people take out restaurant food and eat it in Central Park. But this issue is more than that, this issue is a culture war too.
I can’t for the life of me relate to the people who claim “outdoor dining is so nice” — sure it is! Maybe in Positano, or Marina Del Ray — but sitting in a FILTHY shed that rats 🐀 crawl all over day and night, next to a sidewalk where dogs urinate and defecate while the stench of urine permeates the humid air and car exhaust fumes blow in your face? It’s insane to have a the take that this is a pleasant experience. I sincerely feel bad for people who find this enjoyable bc that must mean eating in a shed is a peak life experience for you which seems really sad. These sheds harbor rats, vagrants, are dangerous to be in (remember the several car crashes that injured restaurant patrons in these sheds?) and I’m relieved they will be removed.
Curious ….
For people who support street space for restaurants……
Do you think stores should also be able to get street space?
For example, should a hardware store or shoe store or pot store also be getting use of the street?
I just looked at all of the rules regarding materials, clearances, etc. Wow. To the restaurants that apply, good luck with that.
NYC can not enforce fare evasion. Do you really believe they can enforce fining out door sheds?
The one thing I have observed is the city’s harrassment of sidewalk fruit and vegetable vendors (BTW, some of the nicest business men in NYC). For example, three times this past spring I walked by a vendor on 78 and Broadway and police were supervising its dismantling. One time I counted 6…6!! Who authorizes this type of deployment?
Please get rid of all these outdoor sheds. They are contributing immensely to traffic, congestion, parking problems, and pollution as well as rats.
I kind of like the sheds-there is a certain charm to them, but they really just add clutter to the streets, which are already cluttered with bikes, scooters and people looking at cell phones,etc. More people walk than eat in restaurants.
People who drive eat in restaurants too.
Those wishing to eat outdoors will do so once again in the traditional New York way, at a sidewalk table under an umbrella or awning, with a beautiful sunny view view of the streetscape rather than of another ugly, dark tool shed. If the city decides to allocate parking lanes to restaurants, well, I’m not sure I understand this giveaway to one industry that did just fine without it for generations before the pandemic, but if it happens let those lanes also be for tables under umbrellas or awnings rather than for enclosed structures. Those wishing to avoid “the elements” can eat indoors.
I’ve had my disappointments with Mayor Adams, but in this regard I thank him profusely. In certain parts of town, it has already become so much nicer to walk around and actually see up and down the beautiful streets of Manhattan as they used to be before seemingly permanent sidewalk sheds for facade work and tool sheds for restaurants darkened them.
The dining sheds near my block not only house rats but on the evening and early morning hours, house homeless people, several of whom I have seen shooting up on more than one occasion. Genarro on Amsterdam and 93 is a classic example.
This will not be popular, and I accept that. However, I would like to give a different perspective on the outdoor restaurant sheds from a Minnesotan’s point of view – Personally, I feel that these are fantastic. As a patron, you have a choice – inside or outside dinning. You have a choice to bring your pet. You have a choice to be outside, people watching. You have a choice to be a part of a neighborhood, getting to know fellow diners and other people with whom you share your spaces with. I feel safe walking the streets where there are people outside, observing. I am from the Twin Cities – we live for being outdoors, able to enjoy the sunshine. As the sheds are being taken down…I see a lot of the friendly charm leaving the streets…for more cars. To this transplant that is sad. Again, I know my opinion is only mine and I accept that others disagree, but I will continue to look for those restaurants in the neighborhood that have outdoor seating and opportunities to be with my new neighbors.
Well said, many NYC residents agree with your common sense take, just look at the many many people that are eating in the dining sheds. As I’ve pointed out many times before, the comments on the Rag are not representative of the views of the UWS residents.
For most people, “like” does not mean they will fight to the death to keep outdoor dining sheds if they were to be gone permanently.
I would like to know about the restaurants in Astoria Queens. The sheds are a nuisance to the neighborhood. A lot of noise , garbage, and rats running around because of it . Customers yelling and screaming all day long in these sheds.
I agree with the rest of the comments they are an eyesore. They are also rat infested nests . Also the people throw all their garbage inside them. They don’t benefit the customers or the neighbors at all. It is a relief for them to be taken down.
These outdoor dining sheds make my stomach turn over. Let’s go back to the way it was–enclosed and unenclosed sidwalk cafes. All of them must pay for their cafe licenses and they must first be okayed by various city agencies.