What New Yorkers Lost: Dining Sheds That Supported Vibrant Sidewalk Life

New York's beloved street dining sheds were taken down in response to a push by the mayor and city council president, despite the fact that they are beloved by communities and even supported by NYCDOT. They should be brought back.

A wonderful new trend emerged in New York during the pandemic that transformed sidewalks into major social gathering hubs. “Dining sheds” and sidewalk seating areas popped up all over the city, expanding the areas where we can gather, connect, and enjoy life. These places became truly wonderful hangout spots for all members of the community and revitalized the streets of our city.

Unfortunately, these spaces have now been removed. Due to the new rules that put restrictions on street dining with the goal of returning space to cars and control to the government, the vast majority of dining sheds were torn down. This was a tragedy for our city because much more than outdoor dining was lost. We lost much of our social life, community connections, and a part of the city's soul.

Outdoor Dining - How It Started

Outdoor dining areas emerged in NYC around the time of the pandemic, as a response to the concerns that indoor dining was unsafe and therefore not allowed, which gravely impacted businesses across the city. What's more, the pandemic was taking a great toll on people's mental health because of how they were forced to isolate and be apart from each other. This separation was terrible for social connection, which elevated an already prevalent problem of loneliness into a full blown epidemic.

The outdoor dining areas that sprouted up were officially known as "dining sheds" or "streeteries." However, neither of those terms is quite right, because these places were more than a mere spot in which to eat – they transformed our sidewalks and streets into vibrant places that people wanted to be, places where friends and neighbors gathered to laugh, talk, and enjoy life. They became magnetic destinations because of how valued they were and how they brought people together. Each one had a unique story and together they showed how Placemaking can create a vibrant future. We like to call them social hubs.

The outdoor dining sheds were a brilliant solution

Since restaurants were allowed to pull their offerings outside in the fresh air where it was much safer to be, dining sheds turned into a savior of both commercial and social life in New York during the pandemic. This created a powerful moment of realization about how the shape of our cities – especially public spaces like sidewalks – impacts economic prosperity, health and wellbeing. This transformation gave us a new idea about how outdoor dining and social hubs in neighborhoods can lead to the creation of a new kind of "Main Street."

For example, before the pandemic, the area below was uninspired and lacking charm. With the boom of outdoor dining during Covid, it was transformed into a vibrant spot for dining and hanging out. It became a Main Street in the traditional sense of the word – a backbone of commercial and community life and a place neighbors gathered to connect with each other.

What the sheds gave us and what we have lost

Despite the fact that New York's dining became a powerful catalyst for social hubs and a resurgence of community life, new regulations led to them being destroyed. A vocal minority pushed back against them, stuck on how things used to be and failing to realize that it hasn't been great for quite some time. They claimed dining sheds took up parking spots, attracted rats (we'd argue that the bags of trash on the street did that) and grasped at straws for arguments to get rid of them despite how popular they were and how much they improved our previously car-dominated streets.

To pull the dining sheds back under government control, an extensive set of new rules was passed that stripped many of these places of their charm and uniqueness and that allowed them to stay open for only half the year. These restrictive rules led to many dining sheds being completely removed and have put a stop to the progress we had made in revitalizing our streets. The new and exciting practice of owners making their businesses better through improvisation, initiative, and creativity – and in doing so improving their communities – largely ended in the name of more on-street parking spaces.

Let's look at some examples.

Poppy's

Poppy’s, a Brooklyn-based restaurant expanded its seating area into the street to create a wonderful outdoor eating and socializing environment that everyone enjoyed. Now, that lovely dining shed is a parking spot for ONE CAR...

Darna

Darna's street seating led to the transformation of the whole block as other establishments followed suit, creating one of the best gathering places in the neighborhood. Now, instead of groups of friends, neighbors, and family members chatting and laughing in the open air, electrifying the area with social life and joy, there is one private vehicle taking up the space for hours.

Cobble Hill Cinemas and The Chocolate Room

This part of Cobble Hill was a true hub of activity as the chocolate shop and theater played off of each other to create a wonderful gathering place. People would go to the movie then hang out at the dining shed next door to discuss and grab a snack. That dining shed is now gone and, you guessed it, replaced by one parked car.

After - The car is where the dining shed used to be

Le Petit Cafe shed is now gone

We thought of Le Petit Cafe as the Taj Mahal of Brooklyn cafes because of how beautiful it was, both its inside area and its outdoor dining shed. With the loss of its shed due to the new regulations, it is now a nice but regular sidewalk space. Much of its one magical appeal has been lost.

Sociale block

Before the new dining shed regulations took action, this block was an exceptionally well-done collection of destinations crafted by each individual merchant and adding up to one of the best blocks in Brooklyn.

After the regulations were put into action, this thriving hub of activity became a dull and lifeless place full of empty storefronts and scooters/bikes on the sidewalks where once there was thriving social life.

More of what we have lost

This intersection of Warren and Court used to have a bench on the corner. It was a major meeting place because this type of seating is a place to hang out, not just a place to sit and people watch. Being at the corner naturally became a place to spend time with friends, neighbors, and even dogs.

However, this beloved corner bench was taken out and the loss is still felt every time we go by the corner which is now much less lively. The good news is that this bench was so popular it has been replicated in other places throughout the neighborhood.

Book Court - everyone's favorite book store

The Book Court was an amazing community hub centered around a book store where people loved to spend time, sitting on the benches in front. However, we lost this great place, and you can see on the lower right hand corner what became of it. The chain stores that have occupied the Atlantic Avenue end of Court Street do not understand the dynamics of the street life that older, more established businesses do.

The first images were taken in 2005...the photo of what replaced the Book Corner was taken in 2021

What we are getting instead - places where improvisation doesn't or can't work

When the organic process of a community shaping itself is stifled, the blocks or sections of blocks that are defined by modern buildings or contemporary storefronts of chain stores dominate the urban landscape. They are defined by design that feels generic, out-of-place, and doesn't fit with the community, and they don't integrate with neighboring establishments or sidewalk life. They replace traditional anchors like small local businesses, which are what give communities their unique character, vibrancy, and lovability. They create a sterile and unappealing public realm that discourages people from exploring it on foot.

There are also various examples of new developments, like the residential tower below, that feel so out of place that they are rejected by the community, true "eyesores" that people avoid and that destroy the lively energy of a once vibrant block.

COVID gave us a sense of what it would be like if NYC was a place for people and active social life instead of for cars and traffic. Considering the fact that the vast majority of New Yorkers don't drive, as well as the fact that the city is actively taking measures to decrease the presence of cars in the city via the congestion tax, doesn't it make sense to pursue and support a less car-focused way of living as well?

What's more, it makes sense to empower communities and local businesses to shape their environments into unique and interesting destinations that they take care of and take pride in. This is a practical, hands-on approach to revitalization of both businesses and public spaces. As such, it should be encouraged, not stifled by limiting the freedom of those who want to engage in it. This is an iterative approach which can draw people in on multiple levels, from community members to business owners to local leaders, creating a powerful collaborative effort towards city betterment. It is a great way to get people engaged and invested, improving and maintaining their communities.

New York's dining sheds became institutions in our communities that fundamentally shaped our neighborhoods. Dining sheds made streets better, more interesting, more economically resilient and more enjoyable. They became woven into the fabric of our communities and gave them new life. What's more, they were like the building blocks of "Main Streets" where people and social life can take center stage instead of cars and traffic. Because of this, we need to fight to bring dining sheds back, before we lose forever all the wonderful benefits they brought us and the new way of life they let us briefly enjoy.

The benefits of dining sheds that we are now losing

The freedom to revitalize the sidewalks during and after Covid improved our public spaces and gave us numerous benefits. All of them have now been or are in the process of being taken away. They include:

A relaxed, safe urban environment where kids can explore and roam free and where baby carriages are ubiquitous because parents seek out such places where they feel comfortable to stroll and hang out
Year-round community hubs offering places for people in the neighborhood to gather and connect with each other
A pattern of reciprocal gestures that empower and embolden local business owners by giving them the freedom to improvise
Open windows for food offerings which create opportunities for families who don't want to or can't do a sit-down meal
More easily accessible dining areas for people with mobility aids who find it difficult to maneuver inside a restaurant
More opportunities for connection because people like to gather with friends on the street, not inside a restaurant in a more formal way
Calmer traffic and safer streets because dining sheds create visual friction and pedestrian activity, slowing down drivers who intuitively feel they must drive more carefully
Much more engaging and interesting sidewalks since double-loading creates a "pedestrian aisle" down the middle of the sidewalk where there are things to see and do on both sides
More contact with the proprietor who is often out on the street with patrons, creating a relationship between community members and local business owners
A feeling of community ownership and investment in local business activity because it takes place on the shared territory of the sidewalk, not inside of a private building
People behaving in a more natural, comfortable, and relaxed way and being more open to connection. The sidewalk becomes shared space that welcomes everyone of all ages and types
Neighborhoods that have transformed from "bedroom communities" into 24/7 destinations where people enjoy spending their time because there is a greater variety of things to do at all hours and all seasons

How Outdoor Dining Created Community Institutions in NYC

When the pandemic required that indoor activities be moved outdoors for safety, sidewalks and intersections became essential platforms for social connections and commercial activity. In that period, they suddenly became the main venues where our lives played out and the most important public places for maintaining health, vibrancy, and happiness in each community. The activation of these public places quickly became a solution to the major public health issue posed by the pandemic and communities began to revive, creating unique destinations throughout neighborhoods.

Many of these social hubs were integrated into their neighborhoods, becoming anchors and institutions of community life. The process of creating these dining sheds and social hubs also showed us how each place had to arise naturally out of its setting, becoming unique to each site. Improvisation and reciprocal gestures were essential to getting it right. It was an example of Placemaking at its best.

What It Was Like Before the Pandemic

Most people probably don't remember what our streets were like before Covid allowed us to pull restaurant activities outdoors. Pre-Covid, the government-led DOT and planning department made it very difficult to get any kind of café or extension of uses onto the sidewalks in front of businesses. This led to our sidewalks and streets feeling bare, unattractive, boring, and often hostile because cars dominated these spaces rather than people. Even the rare seating along the street was not a pleasant place to gather because of the fumes and noise from the adjacent traffic.

Nice streets with multiple interesting storefronts, but lacking any life

This central multistory building in Cobble Hill had fairly narrow sidewalks and four parking spaces for cars

The Pandemic Opened Up New Possibilities

A silver lining to the pandemic was the opportunity for massive street-level change that we thought could never happen. All of a sudden, because it was unsafe to eat inside and countless businesses were in danger of closing, cafés and restaurants were allowed to use their sidewalks and the street along them to create structures where their patrons could gather. It felt like breaking free from restrictive rules and regulations. A sense of fun, vibrancy and creativity filled our streets.

These changes, as well as additions of amenities like benches, have shown us the value of a process we call "reciprocal gestures," where adjacent businesses see the powerful impact that an intervention has on foot traffic and business visitation, so they feel inspired to add something similar to the outdoor presence of their own business.

As part of the resurgence of sidewalk activity brought to us by Covid, dining sheds were allowed to be set up. These structures created charming eating areas protected from traffic while still benefitting from being in the open air. They had the effect of making the sidewalk feel wider and safer because they created a barrier between pedestrians and cars. Thus, the sidewalk experience improved immeasurably, becoming much more vibrant, comfortable, and interesting.

Heavy and onerous regulation and stiff design requirements had previously posed a major impediment to improving the sidewalks and streets in NYC. The era of improvisation and creativity around the dining sheds showed us how the future of the public realm can be different, better, and now we are seeing these amazing improvements get taken down for no good reason.

Activating Sidewalks

Sidewalks are essential public spaces and sidewalk life is unique to each community. Sidewalks should be set up in such a way so as to offer a multitude of places where economic and social activity can thrive. However, there is currently no agency with the responsibility of managing and supporting sidewalk activity and social life. The NYC Department of Transportation was the organization that made the dining sheds possible, and therefore the social activity they fostered.

But government alone is not going to deliver — this is something that we have to continue to enable from the ground up. Dining sheds created community-owned hubs that are foundational to local social and economic life. They show us a whole new way of supporting our neighborhoods, and they need to be made possible year-round. Additionally, catalytic LQCs like benches, reciprocal gestures, and activating eddy spaces have transformed sidewalks into places to gather. Local economies and community members alike thrived in this dynamic new environment characterized by improvisation, creativity, and local engagement.

The Power of the Catalyst - It All Started with a Bench

Darna, a small Yemeni restaurant run by a local family, led the way to this block's transformation by putting out benches to protect the trees along the block. The first bench was in front of their restaurant, a popular, mostly take out, falafel food place.

The bench and later umbrella seating at Darna started this process

One bench became two, then two benches became a series of benches spreading up and down that block on Court Street and even over to Henry Street. This kicked off a trend in the neighborhood of creating places to linger. As additional benches were added, they became extensions of dining sheds, creating an entire block full of activities or what could be called a "super hub."

Reciprocal Gestures - A Creative Domino Effect

Once a catalytic intervention is set up, like Darna's bench in this case, it attracts activity. People start interacting around it, gathering there, etc. Neighboring businesses notice and react by setting up something similar but unique to their own brand and offerings. This is a great example of what we call “reciprocal gestures” – when a chain reaction is created that starts spreading down the street and can lead to the revitalization of a whole area.

Darna's bench idea spread like wildfire down the block, creating a chain reaction of reciprocal gestures. Together, these places played off of one another, amplifying the social and commercial effects in an exciting way.

Eddy Spaces - Seeing potential between the lines

This process can be further enhanced by activating what Placemaker David Engwicht calls "eddy spaces" – those underutilized spaces on sidewalks between cafes and other elements on the curbside of the sidewalk. Eddy spaces can often be found between sheds, benches, and street trees. These little spots are often overlooked but hold great potential. They can be turned into play areas, small sculptures for kids, drinking fountains, game tables, a kiosk for a startup business, etc. The combination of reciprocal gestures, "inside out" design, and activating eddy spaces leads to the further development of a "social hub."

In the process of reciprocal gestures, gradually other features start being added – string lights, murals, umbrellas, etc. – extending the vibrancy and transforming the full extent of the sidewalk. Compare the "Darna block" before to after Darna added the benches and the dining sheds were erected. This block quickly became the center of social life on Court Street in Cobble Hill.

After, with the new sheds and activations

As it gains momentum, the cumulative impact of added amenities and assets can even grow to extend across the street or to another corner and down another block in a kind of domino effect. Through this process, something as simple and straightforward as a great bench or a dining shed can turn into the catalyst for a vibrant neighborhood.

The Present and Future of Dining Sheds in NYC

Dining sheds brought an energy back to New York's streets like nothing else has done in the last few decades which have been defined by cars and traffic. The new plan to make them seasonal, getting rid of them in November only to bring them back in April, deprives our streets and sidewalks of their vibrant activity for a significant portion of the year. During that period, communities are denied the wonderful atmosphere and sense of place that each hub managed to create – the magical spots that community members loved. A drop in temperatures doesn't change our need to connect with each other or enjoy our lives... why then should our cities become less enjoyable, by design, for nearly half the year?

When the dining sheds were quickly erected during the pandemic, benefiting from a time of minimal bureaucracy in 2020, they were an economic lifeline to restaurants. In fact, they saved an estimated 100,000 jobs. Since then, most restaurants that fully embraced their sheds as social gathering places continued to thrive economically — especially businesses that operate from tiny spaces and have limited inside seating. The ill-advised City plan to remove or limit dining sheds puts all these businesses at risk.

What's more, the rules of design that the City is now imposing on dining sheds will limit their creativity, uniqueness, and ability to adapt to the feedback, needs, and specifications of their businesses and the patrons they serve. This will end up draining the soul of the neighborhoods where they make their home.

And even if businesses choose to abide by all the rules and retrofit or rebuild their sheds to be compliant, they still need to take them down for half the year. Where will the average business be able to store something so large? The lack of storage space alone has forced many businesses to opt out of having these sheds, stripping our streets of the best thing to happen to them in the last few decades. It's time to ask ourselves seriously – why are we doing this?

How NYC's Dining Sheds Brought Communities to Life

In our neighborhoods of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens, we had an explosion of outdoor cafés/eateries around the pandemic and something amazing happened – many of them became much more than just a place to dine. They became hubs of community life, and beloved destinations that were frequented by all.

There were many exceptional dining shed examples that stood out in our neighborhood, as well as a series of other sheds throughout the larger area that had spectacular design. These places changed and improved with time, evolving to be better and better as their owners learned what worked well.

Businesses expanded the street revitalization with new seating options, turning themselves inside out by opening up their buildings and letting their offerings spill onto the sidewalk. This created charming outdoor destinations throughout neighborhoods. The entire community became an exciting work in progress.

Brooklyn became a very different, much more vibrant place than it was before Covid because of the dining sheds. It helped us understand the implications of a new street paradigm in which sidewalks can act as destinations via their social hubs. Using this strategy intentionally can help us expand on the connections that people are able to make in the public realm like never before.

Examples of Sidewalks Activated by Dining Sheds

The Farmacy and MozzLab – Two hubs on Henry Street anchor this historic neighborhood

We can see the joint impact of dining sheds, reciprocal gestures, and eddy spaces in a nearby hub on Henry street. The main social anchors here are across the street from each other, playing off of each one's improvements.

Certainly one of the best social hubs in Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens is the Farmacy – a true heart of community life. Everyone can enjoy their lovely outside seating area without being required to make a purchase. Most of the people in the images below are community members just gathering with their neighbors to chat and connect.

The young and old and everyone in between enjoy the atmosphere here. The Farmacy is open from 2 in the afternoon until 10 in evening. The afternoon is when the families with kids come. It is a major community asset with all kinds of people hanging out here at all times.

The cards in the window are meant to inspire, and that they do

Gia (below) and her family are the creators and owners of the Farmacy and true leaders in the community. They are an inspiration to others in our neighborhood.

The Farmacy is an iconic soda fountain and community institution.

This wonderful community hub may also have to be removed by NYCDOT due to the new rules about dining sheds. Taking down this community institution anchored by the dining shed would be a great loss, especially to the groups of older women who love this place dearly and make it lively year round, creating an inviting atmosphere for all.

MozzLab

Across the street, a relative newcomer, MozzLab, has created another public gathering place, competing to make this one of the most social intersections around. Both corners provide seating that is available for anyone, day and night, open or not. Both provide food, but have no table service. They are places where people from the neighborhood love to gather and connect in a peaceful and casual environment.

The third corner of this intersection and its local "security."

More Thriving Hubs in the Neighborhood

"Poppy's" on a crosstown street

A very popular takeout restaurant nearby is another important gathering place for the more trendy crowd that often come round with children and pets. The best aspect of this area is that kids can roam free because the dining sheds create a barrier between them and the cars, turning the sidewalk into a safe corridor.

Poppy's is now gone

The new outdoor dining regulations have led to Poppy's dining shed being taken down and the magic of this place being stripped away. It is a terrible loss for the community.

Court Street - full block activation

Back on Court Street, an entire block became a major destination with multiple businesses, four food offerings/restaurants including the popular Sociale, a karate studio, a bodega, and a bus stop. This was the place to be.

This mural is a recent addition, making this intersection one of the best in the neighborhood.

These photos speak for themselves. With the addition of the elegant dining constructions, this corner between DeGraw and Sacket streets transformed from a quiet intersection to a magnetic meeting point.

Gradually, a variety of neighboring cafés pulled their offerings outside, creating a unified outdoor experience for the entire block, including children's classes that spilled onto the sidewalks with outdoor waiting spaces for parents. It was community building at its best.

Adjacent stores include a liquor store and a bodega

A French bakery sits on the other corner of the above restaurant.

The entire mid-block hub is now gone

Because of the new rules and changes, the dining sheds were removed from this block. Now, without the sheds which allowed restaurants to stretch their reach on the street, most of the activity has gone from this once magical area and it is back to what it was before Covid... a dull strip of sidewalk and a significant loss to the neighborhood. This is what has happened to all the once vibrant sidewalks where the dining sheds were taken out.

Le Petit Cafe in Carroll Gardens

This iconic streetery was designed with great attention to detail and beauty, and filled almost an entire block in Carroll Gardens with a sense of elegance and excitement that was missing before. The inside and outside were woven together to create one of the best-designed social hubs in the city.

Frankie's

The buildings here weave together in a wonderful way to create a thriving hub. The Frankie's 457 block is a group of open air "rooms" perfect for community events. On the corner you have a great area with a row of tables and chairs with table service. Inside of Black Gold Records there is a combination café, antique and record store.

The double-loaded sidewalk, seating, open window for ordering, and the record store café create a unique and interesting multi-layered setting to the benefit of all.

Inside the buildings on this section of the street is a network of courtyard spaces for sit-down dining and events, in this case a wedding.

Baby Luc's Pizza

This very popular pizza parlor has an extensive outdoor seating area that is open to everyone. Families and groups meet here, socialize, and have extended meals and meetups. The outside-the-fence seating makes the sidewalks come alive with small groups that add energy and activity to the sidewalk. The area behind the fence has large groups gathering and hosting parties.

Along the sidewalk, smaller groups of seating add a lot of activity, making it a lively shared space. Collections of baby carriages line the sidewalk.

Boran Restaurant

This beautiful, somewhat enclosed shed adds a special atmosphere to the sidewalk of this Thai restaurant in Carroll Gardens. It turns the sidewalk into a safe corridor for pedestrians, children especially, because of how it creates a barrier between them and traffic.

Improvisation is a driving force in street revitalization

A "social hub" can only, by nature, be community led. It is local, even hyper local. It happens when changes to the sidewalk are chosen and implemented by shop or restaurant owners themselves because these changes resonate with the business' offerings and goals and reflect the patrons and the community. This leads to a sense of ownership and pride in the vibrant hubs that end up being created.

The magic happens when the business owners and community members develop a unique look and feel for each place that reflects the neighborhood via improvisation and creativity. They flourish when there are no mandated rules and restrictive guidelines, but rather each individual store, restaurant, or other kind of establishment is empowered to create their own space using the "laws of attraction" that work best for their business. Local business owners are sensitive to their neighbors' wants and needs and are thus able to adapt their offerings to them in ways that benefit both.

The best social hubs are developed and managed by community members, often business owners who have an idea of what will make their place great based on an understanding of their offerings, customers, and neighborhood. They start experimenting, trying different ways of attracting attention, changing from day to day or week to week. This is improvisation at its best.

The effects of improvisation spread through "reciprocal gestures," as neighboring businesses get inspired to make changes too. People get creative, seeing what works and improvising. With the freedom to test and grow these creative efforts, great spots are able to become even greater, evolving and sustaining themselves organically by adapting to feedback. There is local self-governance at the level that matters most to community members.

Marco Polo - a new addition to sidewalk hubs

Supporting Placemaking at its best

To keep the great outdoor dining initiative alive and thriving, there could and should be an agency or a public/private entity developed to help guide and support these community-led efforts, through a set of flexible guidelines, a kind of "Pattern Language." Helping businesses attract foot traffic and customers by letting them expand into vibrant social gathering spaces that people flock to is just plain good business. This should be supported, not stifled. It is true Placemaking in action and we should fight to protect it.

“Dull, inert cities, it is true, do contain the seeds of their own destruction and little else. But lively, diverse, intense cities contain the seeds of their own regeneration, with energy enough to carry over for problems and needs outside themselves.” - Jane Jacobs

Who We Are

We have led the Placemaking Movement for 50 years. There are over 30 centers of Placemaking globally. Our mentors were part of what we call The Golden Age of Research on Public Life

The mission of the Social Life Project is to incite a renaissance of community connection in public spaces around the globe. Through our online publication, presentations, campaigns, and catalytic projects, we can create transformative impact on communities everywhere. Our work grows out of more than 50 years devoted to building the global placemaking movement. It is an initiative of the Placemaking Fund, along with PlacemakingX — a global network of leaders who together accelerate placemaking as a way to create healthy, inclusive, and beloved communities.If you are interested in collaborating (articles, presentations, exhibits, projects, and more) or supporting the cause contact us.