New York City's Outdoor Dining Revolution: What Went Wrong?

The Decline of New York City's Streetery Scene

Four years ago, as the pandemic raged, outdoor dining structures known as "streetery" became a symbol of New York City's resilience. These makeshift platforms, built in curb lanes, offered a safe way to eat and drink, and revitalized the city's streetscape.

But today, the streetery scene has dwindled. Just under 3,000 restaurants have applied for permits under the new permanent program, down from more than 13,000 at its peak. By the end of the month, New York City will have no streetery for the first time since 2020.

![An outdoor dining shed made of unfinished plywood butts up against a sidewalk in New York.](https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=320 320w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=480 480w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=600 600w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=840 840w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=960 960w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=1280 1280w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=1440 1440w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=1600 1600w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=1920 1920w, https://compote.slate.com/images/024d0389-9240-44cf-a613-2bf39fdc1eed.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=2200 2200w" sizes="(min-width: 1440px)970px, (min-width: 1024px)709px, (min-width: 768px)620px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="1560" height="1040")

Why the Decline?

Several factors contributed to the decline, including:

• Bureaucracy and Delays: The city took three years to formalize the emergency program into a permanent one, allowing time for complaints about issues like trash, noise, and rats to escalate.
• NIMBY Coalition: Concerns about lost parking spaces, amplified by the delay in addressing other issues, led to a vocal opposition group pushing for the removal of streetery.
• Lack of Investment: Restaurants, unsure about the program's longevity, were reluctant to invest in high-quality structures, leading to deterioration and a lack of appeal for the permanent program.
• Complex Regulations: Cities like Boston and Philadelphia implemented stringent regulations, making the process of obtaining permits and maintaining outdoor dining too complicated and expensive for many restaurants.

A Missed Opportunity?

While some cities have seen a resurgence in outdoor dining after streamlining regulations, New York City's winter without parklets is seen as a setback. The decline of outdoor dining has been described as a missed opportunity to create a more dynamic and vibrant city, especially as climate change brings warmer winters.

While the streetery phenomenon might have seemed like a fleeting pandemic-era innovation, its decline highlights the challenges of adapting to change and balancing the needs of various stakeholders in a complex urban environment.