The conflict over North End outdoor dining (Boston: restaurants, safety)

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by Mayei

First of all, I have no idea who moves to the North End and then has the gall to complain about noise and parking. It's incredibly dense, close to downtown, and arguably the most touristy neighborhood in the city.

The same people who complain about late night moonshine burgers on Boylston street, 1 am take out tacos on Newbury street, and nightclubs in the theatre district(they live in an Ava building), and 3am insomnia cookies in downtown crossing
snobs stiffs and nerds

[msRB311]

What is the issue the noise, the $7500 fee, the taking up space on the st or everything?

Like I said it sadly seems complicated but I don’t think the restaurants will suffer if this doesn’t happen. They likely just want to be able to seat people inside and outside since that’s more money for them.

[CaseyB]

Maybe they could compromise and have it summer months only.

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Where would there even be room for outdoor dining in the north end ?

Guess you haven’t been there in a pretty long time? There have been a lot of outdoor dining spaces set up the last two summers. I thought it made for nice ambiance and made me feel like I was in Madrid.

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Maybe they could compromise and have it summer months only.

I think it’s already only the summer months. Maybe October too.

[msRB311]

No I haven’t been to the north end in a while. Might have driven through last year when it was winter. It sounds lovely but obviously there are issues with it happening. Maybe restaurants all over the city would then want to do outdoor dining and isnt traffic bad enough?

I love sitting outside to have a drink and eat but I’m not sure Boston was built to have tables set up in the streets that are really meant to be driven down.

[bostongymjunkie]

Other neighborhoods in the city do have outdoor dining, and they don't pay $7500 for the privilege. That's the issue.

[msRB311]

But other places that do offer don’t have to block the streets off

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Maybe restaurants all over the city would then want to do outdoor dining

Restaurants all over the city have been doing outdoor dining for the last 2 years. Though the new restrictions are only supposed to target North End restaurants. Won’t matter for restaurants elsewhere in the city.

Edit: oop looks like gymjunkie beat me to it!

[msRB311]

But other places that do offer don’t have to block the streets off

[bostongymjunkie]

Yeah I get it, but they are being heavily penalized. They should be looking to find solutions that may require concessions from all including those opposed, but I think $7500 is steep. That said, they certainly should be strictly enforcing noise, waste, and other licensing issues and holding business owners accountable.