County approves Miami Beach plan to close nine streets for dining amid COVID recovery
Miami Beach has received county approval to partially or fully close down nine roadways next week and transform them into outdoor restaurant seating as eateries emerge from two months of coronavirus closures.
A ten-block stretch of Ocean Drive closed to traffic on Saturday, and the city of Miami Beach has since received approval from Miami-Dade County to close nine full blocks of Washington Avenue and shut down single lanes of traffic, parking lanes or sidewalks on Lincoln Road, Bay Road, Ocean Terrace and other streets.
Restaurants can reopen citywide on May 27, and city leaders hope to aid in the industry’s financial recovery by providing open-air seating where cars would normally drive. The closures will also benefit those who want to walk, roller blade or ride bicycles away from busy sidewalks and car-filled streets.
On Ocean Drive, restaurants can expand onto the west sidewalk, parking lanes and southbound lane. The northbound travel lane and east parking lane will be reserved for pedestrians and bikes and for emergency vehicles, the city said.
On Washington Avenue, restaurants can expand using the existing sidewalks, parking lanes, and outside travel lanes. The inside travel lanes will be dedicated for pedestrians and bikes and for emergency vehicle access.
Washington Avenue will close on May 26. Other closures will take place as restaurants apply for the city’s Recovery Outdoor Seating Pilot Program.
These kind of closures, pushed by open-streets activists for years, will give pedestrians and bicyclists more room to exercise safely during the coronavirus pandemic, but they require Miami-Dade County approval. The city was able to close Ocean Drive because of an ongoing agreement with the county to close it when officials deem it necessary.
City Manager Jimmy Morales circulated the plan to his executive staff, the mayor and the City Commission on Friday.
“We’ve heard from our medical experts loud and clear that the outdoors is the better option right now,” said Assistant City Manager Eric Carpenter during a virtual town hall May 15. “We’re working with the county to find a way to close Washington Avenue, to be able to expand the more than 60 restaurants on Washington Avenue out into the public right of way.”
Morales informed the City Commission Monday that the city received “final county approval for the closure of road, lanes and/or parking lanes” for the following streets:
• Bay Road from 18th Street to 20th Street — closure of the west side parking lane and southbound travel lane.
• 20th Street from Purdy Avenue to Bay Road — closure of eastbound travel lane.
• Purdy Avenue from 18th Street to 20th Street — closure of northbound travel lane.
• 73rd Street from Collins Avenue to Ocean Terrace — closure of north sidewalk and parking lane.
• Ocean Terrace from 73rd Street to 74th Street — closure of west sidewalk.
• 74th Street from Collins Avenue to Ocean Terrace — closure of north sidewalk and parking lane.
• Lincoln Road from West Avenue to Alton Road — closure of north side parking lane and westbound travel lane.
• Washington Avenue between Seventh Street and 16th Street — full closure of road.
• Ocean Drive from Fifth Street to 15th Street — full closure of road.
The city is also seeking to close 72nd Street from Harding to Abbot avenues and Española Way between Collins and Washington avenues.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said the closures are intended primarily to allow restaurants with outdoor seating or sidewalk cafe permits to create distance between their tables by extending seating into the streets.
“We’re excited to expand our streets and afford restaurants the option to create outdoor dining experiences that will respect social distancing guidelines,” he said in a statement. “The prioritization of pedestrians over cars will also create more active promenades for residents and visitors to enjoy our beautiful city.”
Activists like Matthew Gultanoff, a bicyclist of 20 years and resident of Miami Beach, said the closures are a “positive” step toward making the city more friendly to bicyclists, roller bladers, skateboarders and pedestrians.
“It’s a new beginning for Miami Beach,” said Gultanoff, founder of Better Streets Miami Beach. “It’s just confirming what everyone knows ... that we are not a car-dependent city.”
Salons, retail, museums opened Wednesday
The city emerged Wednesday from a nearly two-month COVID-19 lockdown, which crushed its hospitality-based economy and, in turn, cut into the tens of millions in resort taxes and parking fees the city receives.
Retail stores, grooming services and museums were allowed to open first, on Wednesday, and restaurants will follow the following Wednesday.
Restaurant operators can apply for expanded seating at the city’s website. The application can be submitted through the Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal (www.MBSelfservice.com), under Public Works Special Event. Questions may be submitted to rightofway@miamibeachfl.gov. Interested business owners can also call the city at 305-673-7080 or send an email to otnielrodriguez@miamibeachfl.gov and karenbarrios@miamibeachfl.gov.
“The intent is to give more space for outdoor café tables,” Gelber said.
Morales, who was granted emergency powers during the pandemic, made the call to close Ocean Drive first.
In a memo to the City Commission on May 15, he said the street will remain closed “until further notice.”
The city is developing an application process for interested restaurants. Business operators will be required to submit an insurance certificate and map of the desired outdoor seating. A current sidewalk café permit is not required.
“The plan is to be able to expand the [sidewalk] cafes in Phase 1B into the street to provide additional capacity,” Morales wrote, referring to the second phase of the city’s economic reactivation plan.
“It also offers an opportunity for walking and bicycling with social distance,” Morales said.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 10:57 AM.
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