New Adams Morgan streateries preview D.C.'s future outdoor dining
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A streatery in Adams Morgan with the beginning of a shade structure. Photo: Anna Spiegel/Axios
New streateries are nearly complete in Adams Morgan, laying out a roadmap for D.C.'s future outdoor dining scene.
Why it matters: The city's new streatery program, set to launch next year, will end a Wild West era in which D.C. loosely regulated the structures. Soon, businesses must follow parameters that aim to make them safer, more accessible and aesthetically aligned.
Catch up quick: The District Department of Transportation funded a $750,000 pilot in Adams Morgan that launched in September along a restaurant- and bar-heavy stretch of 18th Street between Columbia and Kalorama roads.
- DDOT demolished existing streateries, installed New Jersey barriers and helped rebuild outdoor dining structures for 33 businesses following new draft guidelines.
- The streateries are designed to operate year-round — a big distinction from those in New York City's new program, which demands that they go into winter hibernation.
State of play: Adams Morgan BID executive director Kristen Barden tells Axios that all new streateries are ready for use. Features include an open layout to increase visibility, and sidewalk access that aligns with the Americans with Disabilities Act (at least one table must now be ADA-compliant).
- Installation of shade structures for about 15 streateries that previously had roofs started this past weekend.
- Businesses can pick their own color scheme and accessories as long as the decor aligns with the regulations (e.g., no TVs, flashing lights or live entertainment).
What's next: The final stages of the pilot cover street flow and signage, including extended truck loading zones and 10-minute parking spaces for quick access to businesses, among other things.
Friction point: The new regulations mean many businesses will lose their existing structures — including expensive buildouts — and some may shrink overall. Plus: All businesses will have to start paying the city fees, once the program is enacted.
- DDOT's most recent draft proposes that businesses pay $20 per square foot, plus delivery and other fees, including $800 per concrete block and $500 per New Jersey barrier.
- Barden tells Axios the cost of the square-footage fee — which businesses have expressed concern about — is up for negotiation.
What we're watching: How a permanent plan comes together this fall — and how it'll all be funded.
- "Currently, there are no grants or funding opportunities that businesses can apply to help cover costs for new strategies," DDOT spokespersons tell Axios. "There are funds this fiscal year to continue to support the implementation of the permanent upcoming program, but details still need to be finalized."