NYC DOT cuts red tape, allows restaurants with roadway dining to operate hassle-free
On Feb. 28, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the agency would "cut red tape" in an attempt to help thousands of restaurants dealing with tedious outdoor dining application process established by law.
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The NYC Department of Transportation started issuing conditional approvals this week to over 2,000 Bronx restaurants with roadway and sidewalk dining.
On Feb. 28, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the agency would "cut red tape" in an attempt to help thousands of restaurants dealing with tedious outdoor dining application process established by law.
The power move is one not lost on restaurant owners like Maria Dirende, the owner of Enzos of Arthur Avenue.
Dirende is reflecting on the rigorous process to abide by all city restrictions and recalls a time when her establishment "would build something" only to be countered with restrictions.
"They'd come back and say, 'Oh, it's not supposed to be that way,'" she says.
The current move is officially going into effect on April 1.
Ilir Pishtani, owner of Prince Coffee House, says they are hopeful for the change and it's benefit on the community.
"It helps us a lot as a business, and not only us as a business," says Pishtani. "It helps the community, because I need more employees to cover the outdoor dining."
The New York City Department of Transportation says it has received more than 1,400 applications for roadway dining, with 800 applicants currently eligible for conditional approvals by the start of the roadway dining season this spring.
