Introducing the Open Air Initiative!

Downtown Lewisburg has been busy putting the pieces into place for safe reopening. We want people to come downtown, visit the shops, patronize the restaurants and bars, and enjoy themselves. We also want them to be able to do all that safely. Even in Green Phase there are still significant restrictions on capacity in eating establishments. And many prefer to opt for take-out. But rather than have everyone do the curbside pick-up and then skedaddle, we're inviting people to come on down, find a spot to eat outdoors. The Lewisburg Downtown Partnership Design Committee, in collaboration with the Borough and…

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July 2, 2020
10:36 pm
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Downtown Lewisburg has been busy putting the pieces into place for safe reopening. We want people to come downtown, visit the shops, patronize the restaurants and bars, and enjoy themselves. We also want them to be able to do all that safely. Even in Green Phase there are still significant restrictions on capacity in eating establishments. And many prefer to opt for take-out. But rather than have everyone do the curbside pick-up and then skedaddle, we're inviting people to come on down, find a spot to eat outdoors.

The Lewisburg Downtown Partnership Design Committee, in collaboration with the Borough and Lewisburg Neighborhoods, came up with a Phase I plan we're calling the Open Air Initiative. We've looked at what's happening around the state, around the country and around the world to find the best in creative solutions and resiliency in the face of the challenges we're confronting. And this is what we've come up with.

It takes into account the need for continued public health measures, especially distancing and hygiene, and it depends on people having their masks at the ready and being sure to put them on when they aren't eating or drinking. We don't want to support community spread of infection which would sabotage all the work we're doing to reboot our economy!

Lewisburg or Paris, who wore it better? (JK, those bears are supercool.) The open air seating and eating is intended to be used in combination with physical distancing. The tables are separate from each other and the spirit of the guidelines is for there to be minimal mixing of households while dining, which has to happen obviously with masks off.

The Challenge:

Downtown businesses are in dire need of community support.
Revenues at downtown businesses serving food and drink have been radically reduced.
Even in Green Phase, significant restrictions on building occupancy hinders economic recovery.

The Proposal:

State-level changes to licensing have expanded the Borough’s options.
The Downtown Partnership reviewed how other communities are meeting this challenge, as well as the needs and desires of downtown Lewisburg restaurants.
The Design Committee recommends several actions which may make all the difference for downtown businesses at this critical time.

1. Adjustment to the Borough Open Container Ordinance (public space but not in parks)

2. Designated Open Air Dining (+drink) locations in public space in the Downtown District

3. Social distancing park circles (no drinking)

4. Additional trash receptacles

5. Additional intermittent Outdoor Seating in parks for General Use (no drinking)

Our beta version in Hufnagle has a scenic view of S 6th St rather than The City...

The hope is that these expanded options will have a spillover effect on other downtown businesses that rely on foot traffic for sales.

This is being implemented on an interim/trial basis. In the same vein, it can also be seen as a Phase I plan and could be supplemented in future with additions and modifications.

Members of the community working together to preserve natural settings and streetscapes, strengthen ties among neighbors, and improve the quality of life in Lewisburg for residents and visitors.