“The D.C. Department of Transportation is rolling out a new set of regulations and costs for restaurants that want to hold on to their outdoor space.
Streateries were once a critical lifeline, helping restaurants stay afloat during the pandemic. Five years later, many remain fixtures in their neighborhoods and still generate much-needed revenue.
“They’re going to charge us extra for that, and we can’t afford it,” said Raja Shaukat, who owns La Grotta in Adams Morgan.
Shaukat said restaurants are already struggling to make ends meet. When News4 visited, his dining room was empty, and he said business has been slow.
Under the updated streaterie rules, restaurants would face a new $260 permit fee plus $20 per square foot, and they would be responsible for buying their own jersey barriers.
“We absolutely said ‘no’ to them because there’s no point in having a streaterie out,” Shaukat said. “[…] Plus, with the economy and what we are going through right now in D.C., we can’t afford it.”
DDOT says the changes are meant to make outdoor dining more uniform, while improving safety, accessibility and overall aesthetics. But some News4 spoke with said they’re disappointed by the stricter rules.
“I think it’s a real shame,” said Gwendolyn Reece, an Adams Morgan resident. “This has been such a boon to the neighborhood and to D.C generally. It’s about the only good thing to have actually come out of the pandemic.””
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