Arthur Ave. Outdoor Dining Zone

Street design for outdoor dining, Bronx, New York

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam Schwartz was tasked with temporarily redesigning a three-block stretch of Arthur Ave., the heart of “Little Italy in the Bronx.” The local Business Improvement District’s goal was to provide room for physical distancing while allowing the dense commercial corridor’s restaurants additional space for outdoor dining.

Sam Schwartz’s plan calls for a temporary vehicular closure of the street four evenings a week. The sidewalks and parking lanes on either side of the street will be used for dining areas, while the travel lane will be kept clear for safe pedestrian movement and emergency vehicle access. Other key considerations of the design include set-up and take-down procedures, garbage pickup, and accessibility. The final plan will provide expanded outdoor dining for more than 20 local businesses.