Outdoor dining districts being proposed by Hamilton councillor

With the current realities of COVID-19 putting strain on industries which depend on public gatherings, Hamilton’s food scene is taking a particular hit; and a councillor is bringing a motion to city council this week that may help soften the financial blow.

Many local restaurants, bars, and cafes are frightened for their futures, scrambling to adapt to unprecedented circumstances and get by on what is, for many in Hamilton’s culinary community, a fraction of their usual business revenues.

A heartbreaking number of these spots may not make it past the finish line of this pandemic; in fact, a few have already shuttered completely.

These desperate times inspired an innovative idea that could allow Hamilton’s restaurants to introduce distanced seating at a higher capacity during the warmer days of spring, summer, and fall.

Spearheaded by Ward 2 City Councillor Jason Farr, the idea involves building temporary ‘outdoor dining districts’ that will let local restaurants spill seating over into expanded outdoor patio areas built temporarily in parking lots and roadways.

I will be presenting this motion Wednesday designed to assist dining districts and restaurants across the city w room to expand outdoors. We want to be ready to serve when the time comes. pic.twitter.com/sPu9vO98Jv

— Jason Farr (@jasonfarrhamont) May 7, 2020

Economic development officials in Hamilton would work with local BIAs and restaurant owners to determine suitable locations on which to build this temporary seating; an initiative that would allow restaurants to operate at a more profitable capacity while guests can still practise social distancing.

If this idea is given the go-ahead, an application process will be required of interested Hamilton restaurants with consideration to pedestrian safety, adequate access for emergency services and public transit, and adherence to public health requirements.

Applicants would also be responsible for the management and operation of their spillover dining districts including cleaning and maintenance, staffing needs, and observing proper physical distancing.

Farr’s motion has been seconded by Mayor Fred Eisenberger, and will be brought to city council this Wednesday.

Lead image courtesy of @hamontsalsa

Share post

Tags

• bar
• cafe
• coronavirus
• COVID-19
• culinary
• economy
• food
• Fred Eisenberger
• Hamilton
• HamOnt
• hamont eats
• HamOnt Food
• Health
• jason farr
• local eats
• outdoor patio
• pandemic
• Public Health
• Restaurant
• social distancing