JACKSON, MI – Walking around Jackson and grabbing a beer with friends may soon upgrade from wait times for tables to strolling around town.
At its 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27 virtual meeting, the Jackson City Council will consider a plan to establish a “social district,” or a local government-designated area where outdoor drinking is permitted, in downtown Jackson.
The Michigan Legislature passed a law last year to make it easier for restaurants and bars to take advantage of public outdoor spaces, encouraging business while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jackson’s Downtown Development Authority proposal establishes a social district between Louis Glick Highway, Washington Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Blackstone Street.
“It allows the restaurants to expand their service and hopefully increase their sales at a time when indoor capacities are lower than standard, and it allows patrons a nice place to gather, especially right now outside and get a bit of a larger, broader area,” DDA Director Cory Mays said. “The benefits are for both the businesses and the consumers.”
Social districts include specified “common areas” where the liquor can be openly consumed in specially marked cups. The DDA proposed common areas between Jackson and Mechanic streets and Pearl and Cortland streets, to include as many as 15 bars and restaurants in the areas.
Under the proposal, the DDA and city would provide fencing around the dining areas. Furnishings in outdoor seating areas on sidewalks or within parking spaces would be the responsibility of a restaurant. Police will patrol the common areas to ensure compliance, DDA officials said in the proposal.
The social district’s hours would be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to midnight Friday through Sunday.
It’s up to council to approve the borders and common areas, as well as how long the social district is in place, Mays said. If approved, restaurants then have to complete a social district permit application to be approved by council and then receive the permit through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
“It would be great for us to get this started out in time for the summer,” he said. “We’ve got outdoor events that we’re hoping to have (and) the weather’s getting warmer. We want to get that maximum benefit to restaurants and customers as quick as we can.”
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April 27, 2021 at 02:40AM
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