Brussels, which like many other cities turned over street space and parking lots to keep restaurants and cafes in business during the pandemic, has ordered them shut down and returned to car use by October 31.
It’s not the end, though: the plan was considered successful enough, allowing restaurants to stay in business and to create more space between tables, that restaurants will be able to apply to use the spaces again next year, from April to September. In the meantime, to help ease the transition, cafes and restaurants will be eligible for grants of up to €2000.
Paris, which also saw a big growth of eateries spreading out into street spaces, parks and plazas, has decided to make them a permanent summer feature, but next year there will be fees paid to the city for the spaces. The program will also be open to florists, booksellers and some others. Restaurants can also apply to keep a year-round permit as long as only one parking space is used.
New York, too, is drawing up rules for a new season for next year, although the process is just starting, and competing views of land and street use are being put forward.
