Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 14, 1994 TAG: 9406140382
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: |By MIKE HUDSON| |STAFF WRITER|
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
City Council voted Monday to allow downtown restaurants to locate tables and chairs on public sidewalks. Downtown Roanoke Inc. had been pushing for the new ordinance since February.
``The restaurants are terribly excited and can't wait to get through the application process,'' said Ashley Waldvogel, the business group's spokeswoman. ``It's going to do tremendous things for the downtown area.''
City Manager Bob Herbert said that the push for sidewalk cafes is a ``nice complement'' to the city. He said it's an indication of how much progress the city has made cleaning up the City Market and attracting people downtown - especially after looking at other cities where people are fearful about going downtown.
Restaurants must get a permit from the city and follow certain rules:
nTables and chairs must be chained to the building or taken inside after closing.
nPedestrians must have a pathway at least 5 feet wide on the sidewalk.
nNo alcohol can be served at the outdoor tables.
The restaurants will not have to pay rent to use the public sidewalks.
Waldvogel said four restaurants around the City Market have been pushing hardest for the approval: The Greedy Pig, Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, On the Rise Bread and Brothers Bakery. About a dozen more have also expressed an interest, she said.
She said the application process shouldn't take long - some tables could be out on the sidewalks by this weekend.
by CNB