In response to COVID-related restrictions, REV worked with the City of Birmingham in 2020 to create a temporary permit giving street-level businesses options for using nearby sidewalk and parking spaces to expand their operations. We learned a lot about what worked and didn’t work for these outdoor dining setups in terms of materials, design requirements, placement etc. All that knowledge about best practices was rolled into our Shared Space Design Guide to give retail and restaurant owners an easily digestible guide filled with ideas and resources to utilize the relaxed restrictions on outdoor commerce during COVID. The design guide contained diagrams of properly executed outdoor dining spaces, as well as instructions on the required diagrams, and places to rent materials if needed.
The increased revenue and vibrancy generated by businesses who took advantage of the shared spaces permit was an amazing boost to the city. Rather than roll back that progress by ending the temporary permit, REV and the City of Birmingham Department of Transportation worked together to make a new, permanent process for shared outdoor dining and retail in 2021. The new Public Space Permit draws on almost two years of experience with outdoor dining expansion to extend the best parts, like more types of usable public space, expands the offering, now allowing outdoor retail, and includes a funding mechanism for increased oversight to ensure that all the new spaces remain safe, attractive, and ADA compliant.
In early 2022, City Council officially approved the Public Space Permit. That means businesses who created temporary outdoor spaces during COVID can now apply to make those spaces permanent additions to their serving or retail footprint (which means more revenue)! The increased certainty of a new permanent process for these spaces should make it even more attractive for businesses to invest a little time and money in creating them. We hope to see even more colorful dining set-ups dotting Birmingham sidewalks and adding vibrancy in 2022 and beyond!
Related News
-
12 anchor businesses in Woodlawn's historic commercial district
Filed Under: Business-Proving, Front Page, Small Business, Woodlawn
The historic Woodlawn commercial district has been home to some exciting openings in the last year. These new concepts represent the evolution of Woodlawn businesses, providing us a glimpse at what the future holds for this special place. However, as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither was Woodlawn! That’s why we want to tip our hats and raise a glass to some of the businesses that have paved the way for further development and growth in Woodlawn.
-
A cautionary tale: Birmingham's historic losses
Filed Under: Developer, Downtown Birmingham, Front Page, Historic Preservation
In case you haven’t heard, May is National Historic Preservation Month, as so celebrated for years by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service. Here in Birmingham, a city rich in history and culture, this month-long celebration is not only a reminder to take stock of the historic treasures and charm we currently possess, but a time to mourn those we no longer have.
-
10 powerful examples of historic preservation in action
Filed Under: Downtown Birmingham, Filling Vacant Spaces, Front Page, Historic Preservation, Potential-Proving, Yaysayers
It’s easy to take for granted the historic gems we have here in Birmingham. Many beautiful, story-filled buildings dot the map of our city, their silhouettes adorning our skylines and their façades serving as the vibrant background to our everyday lives downtown. However, without attention, investment and a commitment by our community to prioritize these treasures, our historic buildings and the authentic character they give our city can disappear.