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BOSTON
- Thursday, December 10, 2020 - Building on Boston's ongoing commitment to
supporting restaurants during COVID-19, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today
announced the launch of an outdoor dining pilot program for the 2021
season. The 2021 Outdoor Dining Pilot Program will continue many of the
successful initiatives from this year's program, such as streamlined
permitting and outdoor patios on roadways that enable restaurants with
narrow sidewalks to offer patio seating to patrons, while offering new
features based on community feedback. Applications for outdoor dining
licenses on both public and private property are now open and can be
accessed here: https://bostonopendata.knack.com/outdoor-dining#welcome.
"I'm
pleased to announce an outdoor dining pilot program for the 2021 season.
This year we saw the benefits outdoor dining can have on our neighborhoods:
vibrant streets, support for local businesses, a safe and enjoyable
experience for restaurant goers, and, in many ways, a lifeline for our
small businesses during this challenging time," said Mayor Walsh.
"We have appreciated the feedback from restaurants and residents, and
look forward to their continued input as we develop a outdoor dining plan
for next year that balances public health, our restaurants, and our
residents."
The
2021 Outdoor Dining Pilot Program season will begin on April 1, 2021, or
earlier if weather permits, and will end on December 1, 2021, weather
permitting. Restaurants who took part in the 2020 temporary outdoor dining
program and who wish to do so in 2021 must re-apply. We will also be
accepting applications from restaurants who did not take part in the 2020
temporary outdoor dining program. For the 2020 temporary outdoor dining
season, the Licensing Board for the City of Boston approved more than 550 requests
for outdoor dining licenses with over 415 on public property. Of the total
approved outdoor spaces, applications from every single neighborhood in the
City of Boston were represented.
The
City has made a series of changes from the temporary 2020 program, based on
feedback received from the public, including:
- Moving the application process
to another online
platform where businesses can track the status of their
applications for more transparency
- Additional time built into the
process, so that restaurants can procure proper materials and plan for
operations that will include an outdoor dining space
- Clear guidance for outdoor
dining on public and private property that will be available in both
English and Spanish, with other languages available upon request. The
full guidance is available online, here.
- Consistent enforcement that
will focus on ensuring licensees adhere to all requirements issued by
the City to ensure outdoor dining is safe and enjoyable
- 1:1 assistance for restaurant
owners who require support and/or translation of the online
application
Recognizing
that each neighborhood has its own opportunities and challenges for outdoor
dining, the City is also working to address the specific needs of
restaurants, residents, and visitors across neighborhoods.
There
will also be virtual application help sessions available to assist
restaurants in preparing and submitting their applications. The first
session is scheduled for Wednesday, December 16 at 5:00 pm. Registration is
required, please sign up using this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dDhCJ7pbTBadsxA18rFesg.
Interpretation for this session is available upon request, please contact 2021outdoordining@boston.gov for more information.
This
announcement builds on the work the Walsh Administration has done to
support restaurants during the City's COVID-19 response. In May, the City
of Boston announced
new measures to help restaurants during the ongoing public health
crisis, including expanding outdoor seating, and waiving fees for outdoor space.
The City also extended
its outdoor dining program past the original closure date of October 31
to December 1, to further support restaurants during this time. To ensure
accessibility of on-street dining during the 2020 season, the Mayor's
Commission for Persons with Disabilities procured and distributed
approximately 90 portable ramps to restaurants at no cost. The Commission
has additional ramps available to expand this support in 2021.
Throughout
the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Boston has been steadfast in its
commitment to supporting the small business community. Nearly $6.7 million
in debt-free grants have been distributed to over 1,850 small businesses in
every neighborhood across the City of Boston through the Office of Economic
Development's Small
Business Relief Fund. Last month, the City launched
three new funds totaling $6.3 million that will support small
businesses in Boston that have been affected by COVID-19, focusing on
commercial rent relief, supporting certified women, minority, and veteran
owned small businesses, and restaurant relief. And to further assist the
City's small businesses, the City of Boston has created
a list of suppliers to help businesses source the personal
protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies required to ensure the
safety of employees and customers as industries reopen.
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