Sidewalk Café Issues: Now’s the Time to Speak Up

Local restaurant owners will soon receive an application to renew their sidewalk café permits, and although Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) is encouraging them to submit the paperwork on time, neighborhood officials say now’s the time to speak up.

Each year businesses are required to reapply for a new sidewalk café permit that allows them to seat people outdoors. And after the extremely mild winter Chicagoans experienced in early 2012, Tunney wants business owners to act soon in preparation for a potential repeat.

“The application process takes 30-60 days,” wrote Tunney in his latest newsletter. “In light of the warm winter we experienced this year, please anticipate submitting your application for renewal in early January to ensure you are permitted and ready to open mid-March.”

However, according to neighborhood officials, this also marks the time residents should speak up about potential problems with a restaurant’s sidewalk café. At the Nov. 27 Hawthorne Neighbors Association meeting, the neighborhood group’s president Kevin McIntyre said this would be a good time to voice any concerns.

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“Sidewalk café applications are coming up, so now’s the time to say something and address it before anything’s approved,” McIntyre said. “If there are any (restaurants) that have problems, please let (the alderman’s office) know.”

Ald. Tunney’s Office Director Denise Poelsterl says she hears about issues regarding sidewalk cafés, not just during this renewal period, but all year long. And while the complaints aren’t constant, Poelsterl says one in particular accounts for a majority of issues neighbors have with sidewalk cafés.

“I think the biggest issue is clearance,” Poelsterl said. “You have to have at least six feet of clearance, but because these fences can’t be bolted to the sidewalk, they tend to float around causing some congestion for people walking. So we need to make sure the clearance is right and that the cafés are following the rules.”

Neighbors can voice concerns by emailing the 44th Ward directly at ward44@cityofchicago.org. Unless the complaint is substantial, however, don’t expect to see any changes.

“We encourage our businesses to work with communities to address concerns,” Poelsterl said. “I’ve been here many years and I’ve never had (a sidewalk café permit) be denied renewal.”

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