Get Your Restaurant Off Our Sidewalk Space!

Ugghhh! Photo via West Side Spirit

First the Upper East Siders were ranting about sidewalk congestion, and now the Upper West Side is joining in on the complaint chorus. A writer for West Side Spirit has a bone to pick with enclosed sidewalk cafés; because what else are you going to get worked up about these days? La la la, there are really no other problems except dining establishments jutting out on to public property. Really, nothing.

Citizen Uptown declares that not only are abandoned outdoor cafés an eyesore (saying they "not only look messy and run down but some of them also appear downright gaudy"), but the papered up windows are even more so, and the illegal ads that cover those up are even more so. There's no solution! Will no one do anything about these "unused, enclosed structure that encroach on public property?" Council Member Gale Brewer's office says: “We are trying to find a balance in helping the building owner to find a new tenant to use that space for a restaurant. We don’t want them tearing them down and bringing them back up in four months. That doesn’t help anybody.”

As for the illegal ads being placed on the abandoned storefronts, this sort of thing has been happening all over the city. A spokesperson from the Department of Buildings said the advertising "is not permitted in this district and that the agency is investigating the illegal ads." Until action is taken and justice is served, you'll have to avert your eyes from (or shake your fist at) all of these unsightly sidewalk-encroaching messes when your just trying to enjoy a nice walk to the Chase bank and Duane Reade.

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By Jen Carlson in News on October 2, 2009 1:07 PM

Comments [rss]

Sommelier

Morty: Well said! The stroller-pushing sidewalk hogs there make Park Slope sidewalks seem almost deserted!

Morty

The true cause of sidewalk congestion is the unique Upper West Side combination of a double stroller accompanied by a mother, a nanny, a grandparent and possibly another child taking up about 6 people spaces on the sidewalk. And they are all walking at a pace that would make a turtle cry out in frustration. I hate it when I have to make a trip there.

slappy

Not sure exactly why you would trivialize this issue. You act as if there are more important issues to be upset about. And there are. Maybe you could report on some of those. In the meantime, restaurants and cafes taking public sidewalk space in NYC does not make the city more quaint and interesting. Its a pain in the neck and they should not be licensed to do so in places where they take up half the available sidewalk. Maybe some homeless folks should build themselves makeshift shelters on the sidewalk as long as the leave a some space for people to get by.

thefacts

Carlson, get a hold of yourself.

Why should any business have the right to expropriate public property and then abandon it as an eyesore for the neighborhood to endure? And then place illegal ads to add insult to injury?

Maybe people who live on the ground floor should be able to extend their living rooms into the public sidewalk as well? Would that please you?

Let's just give away all our public sidewalks to private individuals and let the people walk on the gutter. What that make you happy?

I suppose coming from the Nutmeg State doesn't give you much of a clue regarding Big City priorities, and you still find enclosed cafes thrilling and exciting?

Do people from suburbia like yourself have nothing better to rant about?

JenChungsBaby

Don't worry folks. The Department of Buildings says it's investigating so surely everything will be brought under control soon.

BWWAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHahahahahahahaa...............

lostwallet

Hey, your sidewalk shed leaves my no room to park my stroller!

Splicer

I don't see what the big deal is. It's the sidewalk so walk through the outdoor portion of the restaurant. You may have to hop a little fence but they're not that high.