Post on : June 2, 2020
The City of St. John’s is proposing to create pedestrian only zones, expanded outdoor eating areas and public seating infrastructure in Downtown St. John’s for the summer of 2020. Due to provincial regulations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of social distancing measures will be necessary when Downtown businesses reopen in the near future.
Parklet (temporary patio deck structure)
Existing Downtown St. John’s businesses wishing to expand their commercial foot-print onto the sidewalk or parking meter space in front of their business into a parklet (temporary [patio deck structure) can also apply to the City for a temporary expansion – restaurants, cafes, retail shops, bars, etc. They will be directed to make application to the applicable City department. Businesses serving alcohol must adhere to all requirements set out by the NLC.
Pedestrian Only Zones
Two options are being proposed by the City of St. John’s for the creation of Pedestrian Only Zones for the summer of 2020. Downtown St. John’s Business Commission will be gathering input from its members on the proposed options below and sharing the results with the City of St. John’s. The two streets currently being considered are Water Street (from Adelaide St. to Prescott St.) and/or Duckworth Street (from Cathedral St. to King’s Rd.
Option #1
Closure of portions of Water Street and/or Duckworth Street, for three consecutive weeks (4 weekends) in July.
Dates: July 3 to July 26 (24 days)
Road Closures:
8am July 3 to 10pm July 26
Event Hours:
Monday to Friday 12pm to 10pm
Saturday 10am to 10pm
Sunday 10am to 8pm
Water Street from Adelaide St. to Prescott St.
Duckworth Street from Cathedral St to King’s Rd.
Allowance will be made to permit deliveries as well as access to businesses, as needed, until 10am daily.
Option #2
Closure of portions of Water Street and/or Duckworth Street, every weekend, throughout July and August.
Dates:
Friday to Sunday
July 3 to August 30 (27 days)
Road Closures:
8am Friday to 10pm Sunday
Event Hours:
Friday 5pm to 10pm
Saturday 10am to 10pm
Sunday 10am to 8pm
Water Street from Adelaide St. to Prescott St.
Duckworth Street from Cathedral St to King’s Rd.
To ensure no vehicles are parked within the event footprint, thereby reducing the need for towing, the road will be closed as of 8am on Fridays.
Allowance will be made to permit deliveries as well as access to businesses, as needed, until 12pm Friday and until 9am Saturday and Sunday.
TO VIEW MAPS OF THE PROPOSED STREET CLOSURES CLICK HERE: Downtown Pedestrian Mall Proposal MAPS
The City has presented these two options for the development of this pedestrian mall to Downtown St. John’s Business Commission for input. In order to provide this input to the City we will be reaching out to our members for feedback. It is the Downtown business and property owners who will be most affected by possible changes to daily operations created by the road closures associated with these two options. A short survey is being emailed to members. We ask that you read through these options above and provide us with your feedback and comments via the short survey. It is very important that we hear from you – our members! This is your opportunity to provide input! We need to hear from you by noon on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 so that we can pass along your input to the City. After compiling this information, we will also forward you the survey results via email (by request) as well as post them here on our web site.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Access for parking garages, traffic detours and emergency vehicles will be maintained.
- Event parking will be available at various locations through the downtown, including but not limited to private parking garages, City Hall parking garage as well as on-street parking (outside permit zones and event footprint).
- Throughout the event footprint, the City will provide picnic tables for take-out service placed 6 feet apart.
- Existing Downtown St. john’s restaurants will have the opportunity to secure their own outside area, if they wish to have table service. If restaurants wish to serve alcohol, in their outside space, they must adhere to all guidelines set out by the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation.
- Existing Downtown St. John’s businesses, inside or outside the event footprint, who wish to expand to the sidewalk and/or parking stalls directly outside their business, in the format of a parklet (temporary patio deck structure) will be directed to make application to the applicable City department.
- As with the recommendations for walking on City streets, the flow of pedestrians within the event footprint will be to keep to the left and maintain 6’ distance.
- The City of St. John’s will arrange a cleaning crew for cleaning of picnic tables after each use, as well as clearing garbage/recycling bins.
- Event must adhere to the guidelines set out by the Provincial Government with respect to capacity, operational layout and cleaning.
- Private business owners will be responsible for cleaning of their own facilities, including those who have extended their footprint into the event site.