Seattle restaurants are granted one more year of permit-free outdoor dining May 17, 2021 at 8:26 pm
Seattle City Councilmemeber Dan Strauss at a Ballard Avenue press conference on Monday, standing in front of the outdoor dining pergolas that he d like to make permanent throughout the city (Photo courtesy of Dan Strauss office)
Since June of 2020, Seattle’s Ballard Avenue has experienced a metamorphosis. The historic street, lined with trendy restaurants, bars and shops, is now one-way, narrowed into a single lane so shops and restaurants could build wooden pergolas on the street to create covered dining and shopping areas.
“These pergolas and sidewalk cafes provide a moment of consistency for businesses to be able to operate in changing health conditions,” said Councilman Dan Strauss. “What was not clear is how long would these permits last. So, today we’re here to say we want them here forever.”