A sidewalk and parking space cafe (Office of Planning photo)
Have you been dining out, outside? Or have you picked up a restaurant or shopping order curbside? The District has allowed more stores and restaurants to set up shop in more shared public spaces, such as sidewalks, streets, parking spaces and plazas during the pandemic. And now the DC Office of Planning wants your feedback.
Why? “OP is evaluating how the effort impacted District residents and businesses to help determine the future of the program once the public health emergency ends.”
There’s more information below and within the OP’s survey, which will be open until February 14th. Results will be shared with Van Ness Main Street and other organizations, which will share the information with local stores and restaurants.
SURVEY: Outdoor Dining & Retail During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
The Office of Planning (OP) invites you to complete a short survey, designed to assess the experience of patrons of outdoor dining and retail establishments in Washington, DC during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Established in June 2020 through a joint District Department of Transportation, Office of Planning, and Department of Health effort, the outdoor dining and retail pickup program initially aimed to uplift small businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and the resulting public health emergency status. Now, OP is evaluating how the effort impacted District residents and businesses to help determine the future of the program once the public health emergency ends. The information you provide in the survey will inform that assessment.
The survey will be available until February 14, 2021.
Click here to complete the survey.
Susan says
In my view, DC ought to wait until the vaccine rollout is less difficult and anxiety-provoking.