Earlier this week, a joint session of Community Board 3’s transportation and liquor licensing committees was convened to consider 13 applications for “Open Streets” on the Lower East Side. People showed up in droves for one application in particular – Canal Street between Orchard and Essex streets. When it was all over, committee members chose to support the application, taking into account that restaurant owners and other stakeholders had already agreed to cut back days and hours. The ultimate authority for approving the application rests with the city’s Department of Transportation.
In the past, restaurants on Canal Street operated seven days a week. But when the program begins its 2025 season on April 25, they will only utilize the street for outdoor dining four days a week (Thursday-Sunday), and shut down outdoor operations by 10 p.m. The street will re-open at 10:30 p.m. Also, the season will be cut short by seven weeks, ending on October 31.
Lots of people spoke for and against the application. Opponents – neighbors tired of the noise, crowds and overall party atmosphere on their block – said their once quiet corner of the Lower East Side/Chinatown had become unrecognizable. Many of these residents successfully pushed for the City Council’s rejection of a separate sidewalk dining application for Le Dive (“Could This Be the End of the Party in Dimes Square?”). They were also the inspiration for this item in the Post: “NYC Chinatown residents demand end to open streets program that turns neighborhood into a ‘s–tshow’.“
Meanwhile, supporters expressed their appreciation for the transformation of Canal Street, with its plentiful outdoor seating and high energy. The restaurant, Cervos, took the lead in creating open streets on the block during the pandemic. It was a crucial move in keeping many of the restaurants and bars on the two-block stretch afloat during the economic devastation of the pandemic. As “Dimes Square” became a hyped-up phenomenon in the past few years, customers flocked to the restaurants, in no small part due to their al fresco dining. During this week’s meeting, community board members emphasized that the Canal Street Merchant Association had demonstrated a willingness to compromise with neighbors.
If you would like to watch the meeting in full, here’s the link.
You can also learn more about the Open Streets program here.
