St. John’s is speeding up the process by which establishments downtown can add outdoor seating.
Bars and eateries in the area are applying to the city for outdoor extensions as they are seen as a surefire way to attract customers. The pedestrian mall on Water Street has proven popular after only a week of existence.
The mall is a “special events” zone but the city has also identified adjacent streets where applications or decks can be expedited.
Mayor Danny Breen says council realizes that time is of the essence in these cases. They began approving new applications this week.
He says rather than wait for a council meeting, council will get the approvals out faster.