Comments on: Much drama: How sidewalk seating affects public safety downtown

By: Cara Michele

Cara Michele — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:43:30 +0000

“I say that it would be a good thing to barricade one or two blocks for pedestrian/bicycle traffic late at night…”

I think that’s well worth considering as a policy. It is apparently already happening in practice, and on a recurring basis, as I understand it.

“A real city will have ALL TYPES of people walking around, not just the elite few!”

I think we do have all types of people downtown. That’s part of the appeal to me.

By: Jonathan51

Jonathan51 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:13:09 +0000

And I did forget to add this to the discussion:

Yes, the sidewalk ordinances should be updated and changed. Cars already rule Greensboro, so why should we not encourage more pedestrian-friendly movement Downtown? I say that it would be a good thing to barricade one or two blocks for pedestrian/bicycle traffic late at night: This would create a plaza-like feel, a practice that is commonly being done in many European cities. Instead of making lawbreakers out of enterprising business owners, the city should take the lead in helping them stimulate the central business district!

By: Jonathan51

Jonathan51 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:29:11 +0000

Hello, Again! Apparently Greensboro will have to prepare for population growth, both in the city and downtown. Big cities like New York are used to heavy pedestrian traffic on their streets late at night, and this would be a minor thing for them. I like the idea of having the entire block barricaded after 10 p.m. or so to vehicular traffic (bicycles allowed), which would increase the safety factor for the drunk and sober walkers in that area. If city leaders would see the increased activity on the sidewalks not as a threat or nuisance, but rather a win-win situation for everyone involved, the future of the Gate City’s downtown nightlife would be golden, indeed! We need to think OUT of the box, and expand it even more. The more inviting Downtown can be to everyone who goes there, the more lucrative Downtown will get! A real city will have ALL TYPES of people walking around, not just the elite few!

By: Cara Michele

Cara Michele — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:56:15 +0000

I don’t know Mr. Scarfone and I don’t want to cast aspersions on him. My assumption is that he’s a businessman trying to a living. I’ve never been a customer of Much, but I have had dinner in the sidewalk seating area of Metro, right across the street, and I really enjoyed the outside accommodations. (The wine was good, too. A zinfandel, I believe. Or maybe a merlot. I don’t recommend the soup or the hummus, however. Go to M’Coul’s or Liberty Oak if you want good hummus. Just good food in general. And good wine, too. Also outside seating. Not on the sidewalk. But still outside. End of segue.)

A few years ago, I had dinner at a restaurant in downtown Charlotte that had an interesting outside seating area. The entrance to the restaurant had been moved back, so that it made a large covered seating area in the front, just off the sidewalk. I believe that it was elevated a bit, too. I can’t remember the name of the restaurant, but the food was good and we really liked the outside seating, which was also protected from wind and rain. And all of it was under the restaurant’s roof, so it was on their property, not the City’s.

By: Billy The Blogging Poet

Billy The Blogging Poet — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:18:38 +0000

I know Scarfone. He comes from a family with a long history of skirting the law at every turn.

As for sidewalk seating: IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL, PERIOD. If a business wants to offer outdoor dining they have that right but outdoor dining should be contained to property owned or leased by that business.

Allowing sidewalk dining is another form of corporate welfare and businesses located outside of downtown are not allowed to conduct business on city owned property.

By: Cara Michele

Cara Michele — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:22:59 +0000

Yeah, I’m disappointed in the way that Scarfone, Meekins, Matheny and Allen are handling this. Not that they disagree with the ordinance. They have a right to disagree with it and to seek a change in the ordinance. I’m disappointed that they think it’s OK for Much management to break laws they don’t agree with and to disrespect the officers who are paid to enforce the law. That’s real sad. Arrogance annoys and frustrates me. It destroys community.

By: Shirley

Shirley — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:56:53 +0000

CM, I couldn’t agree more. The police went above and beyond to give Scarfone and his manager numerous warnings and chances to do the right thing. There has been talk about Much being targeted for harrassment. If he has indeed been singled out, it’s because he is the only one who consistently chooses to ignore the law. I have no problem with the Council changing the ordinance to find a business-friendly yet SAFE solution. What I do have a problem with is Scarfone and Meekins (and even Councilman Matheny) trying to paint the officers in a negative light for doing their job.