City and local restaurants, breweries team together to create StreateryGNV

Press release from City of Gainesville

The Gainesville City Commission approved a temporary repeal of its open container law, by a 4-3 vote Thursday, in support of a comprehensive strategy to accommodate the creation of “streateries” during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

During the past several weeks, the City of Gainesville and business owners in midtown and downtown have been exploring creative solutions to providing a safe venue for social gathering during the pandemic while extending support to local businesses.  

“The open container ordinance was the last piece of the puzzle,” said City Manager Lee Feldman. “It’s taken a lot of cooperation and persistence, but in the end, we got it done together.”

The StreateryGNV plan also includes temporary expansion of outdoor seating permits, suspension of certain parking fees and specific roadway closures. 

Starting Saturday, Sept. 12, the westbound parking and one travel lane along W. University Avenue between the 1700-1900 blocks will be closed 24/7. Closures are expected to remain in place through the end of November. Variable message boards indicating the changes have been placed along impacted roadways, and motorists should anticipate slight traffic delays in these areas.

“Ultimately these street closures are intended to support adjacent businesses — permitting them to extend into the public right of way while enabling social distancing protocols to be implemented,” said Feldman. “Our goal is to move people outdoors while allowing businesses to serve more patrons safely. It’s a win, win.” 

Additional road closures are scheduled as follows:

• Monday (9/14/20) – City Parking Lot 10 located downtown at SW 1st Ave. and SW 2nd St.
• Tuesday (9/15/20) – South Main St. (parking only)
• *Unit Block – southbound on-street parking
• *100 block – southbound on-street parking
• Tuesday (9/15/20) – SW 1st Ave. between S. Main and SW 1st St.

 Free parking will be permitted in the city’s downtown parking garage on SW 2nd St. throughout the duration of the Streatery project to help compensate for the loss of on-street parking spaces.