In an effort to create more space between customers and guests, the City of Tampa announced a new 14-day initiative that suspends code and permit requirements and allows cafes, restaurants and other businesses to expand their outdoor seating to better allow for six-foot separation.
Starting today, the “Lift Up Local Economic Recovery Plan,” which is in coordination with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Phase One of reopening the state, gives establishments the ability “to expand their outdoor capacity to safely serve patrons while complying with the Governor’s Order for maximum of 25% internal capacity and the CDC’s social distancing guidelines.”
The plan also lets businesses utilize spaces that aren’t typically used for seating, like parking lots, public rights-of-way, and parklets, and allows them to expand into designated public rights-of-ways, like sidewalks.
“We want to lift up our local businesses through this recovery and empower them to re-open responsibly,” said Mayor Jane Castor in a statement. “By giving our local business owners as many tools and as much space as possible to safely serve guests, we can work together to protect our workforce, our customers, and our community. Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we need their help to safely and successfully re-open our city and get back to all the things we love–one step at a time.”
“Street activation zones”—including parts of downtown and Tampa Heights’ Franklin Street, Swann Avenue and S. Dakota Avenue in South Tampa, Grand Central Avenue in the West River district and Seventh Avenue in Ybor City—are also closed 24-7 while parts of S. Howard Avenue are closed from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (see below for details):
Downtown: Twiggs Street (Tampa Street to Franklin Street)
Downtown: Franklin Street (Madison Street to Polk Street)
Hyde Park Village: S. Dakota Avenue/W. Snow (Swann Avenue to S. Rome Avenue)
Ybor City: Seventh Avenue (15th Street to 21st Street)
Tampa Heights: Franklin Street (Kay Street to Palm Avenue)
West River: Grand Central Avenue (Kennedy Boulevard to Hyde Park Avenue)
SoHo: South Howard Avenue (Morrison Avenue to Bristol Avenue)—only closed from 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
The City Tampa says that these closures will start May 5, and are not meant to encourage public gatherings. The Tampa Police Department will be patrolling these areas to prevent violations.
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This article appears in Apr 30 – May 6, 2020.