From the Vineyard Gazette:
Edgartown selectmen are exploring a European model for Main street this summer, with an eye on shutting down portions of the town’s narrow sidewalks, roads and parking lots to increase outdoor seating for restaurants and ease pressure on grocery stores.
Could this work in Newton?
Yes! Many restaurants are adjacent to large public parking lots that could absorb the few lost street parking spaces given over to outdoor dining. Sycamore in Newton Centre is a short walk from several large lots and there is plenty of street parking on neighboring streets like Sumner. We know that in Newton Centre, and probably other villages, there is a surplus of available parking at any given time. The city should work with restaurants to gauge their interest and accommodate their employee parking needs in long term spaces. Restaurants have been bright spots in our villages and the city should be thinking creatively on how to support them. If not, we risk getting more banks when the restaurants can’t afford to stay open.
Yes! Think about the streets that get closed off for village days. Imnagine closing them off and turning them over to cafes and restaurants at least for weekends in the summer. Newtonville would be greast: Walnut street could host George Howell, Aji, Los Amigos, Brewer’s Coalition, Le Du Thai etc.
Sounds intriguing! Also, is there really any need for that beginning block of Langley, between Centre and Beacon? That seems like it would be a great pedestrian way.
Yes – here’s another example of a city realizing it can re-open safely and delightfully:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/lithuanian-capital-to-be-turned-into-vast-open-air-cafe-vilnius
We also need a plan for re-opening the farmers market safely.
This could be done by spreading out across Cold Spring Park, Zervas School, and a partially pedestrianized Beacon St.
Golf carts on loan from closed golf courses could be made available as mobility aids. Limited parking could be made available for those who need to drive. Bike delivery of groceries can be arranged.
It could work anywhere of course, especially now with people so wary of entering closed spaces. Boston has been experimenting with closing Newbury Street on some Sundays, which I think has worked quite well.
I strongly agree with @Holly LeCraw – there are wide expanses of parking lot pavement on both sides of this block and IMHO you’d actually be doing drivers a favor to make them pull ahead and turn left at the Beacon Street light, rather than continuing to allow the added risk, stress, and confusion caused by left turns off Centre at the high-use crosswalks in front of Mr. Sid’s and Mosher’s.
(The only issue might be the entryway from Beacon to the triangle parking lot, which only accepts eastbound traffic off Beacon.)
^Only accepts ‘westbound’ traffic, I meant
Thinking of my hood, West Newton:
Elm Street is already blocked off for the farmers market and it’s not a huge deal. I think closing up that block for outdoor seating at Paddy’s, Mango Thai, Judith’s Kitchen and maybe even Blue Ribbon would be kind of cool.
What about having more food trucks, too? What about making better use of Capt. Ryan Park?
Like Newtoner said, with people wary of enclosed spaces, how can we get creative about people patronizing local businesses within their comfort levels?
Provided the establishments enter into a written agreement with the City for the use of the public way/land and provide liability insurance for any loss or injury. Bear in mind that such a plan essentially bestows a public benefit on a private party. I’m not opposed per se, but with appropriate permitting and lease agreements it could be very nice.
Seattle just announced that they are closing 20 miles of city streets to vehicular traffic
When you have a vision, you follow it. From the Seattle announcement:
“Our rapid response to the challenges posed by COVID-19 have been transformative in a number of places across the city,” SDOT Director Sam Zimbabwe said. “Some of the responses are going to be long lasting, and we need to continue to build out a transportation system that enables people of all ages and abilities to bike and walk across the city.”
…
SDOT estimates spending between $100,000 and $200,000 on making the street closures permanent.
Despite an expected drop in tax revenue from the pandemic, Durkan pledged to continue expanding options for people to safely walk and bike around the city. For example, construction of bike infrastructure will be accelerated this year, she said.