Officials are temporarily closing stretches of popular streets in Pasadena and Orange to accommodate more outdoor seating for restaurants amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The outdoor dining accommodations come after Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered restaurants in 19 counties, including Los Angeles and Orange counties, to halt indoor operations again on July 1 as COVID-19 cases surge.
The first of several partial closures in Pasadena will go into effect Saturday on popular Colorado Boulevard between Madison and El Molino avenues on both north and south curbs, and between Fair Oaks and Raymond avenues on the south curb only, according to the city of Pasadena.
Crews were working on reconfiguring the street Friday to allow for one lane of travel in each direction.
“At least come out and feel a little bit normal. Enjoy your nice, fresh meal on your table instead of eating out of a box,” Juan Anaya of Anaya’s Restaurant in Pasadena said. “So come over, we’re here. We are waiting for you guys.”
A limited number of diagonal parking spaces will be available to support curbside pickup options as well. Transit services will continue on their regular routes, with bus stops within the closed-off segments of the street relocated to nearby temporary stops, the city said in a news release.
In the city of Orange, large sections of Glassell Street at the Orange Plaza were also shut down to traffic to make space for pedestrian-friendly walkways and to allow for outdoor dining, “creating a fun ‘al fresco’ atmosphere,” the city said in a news release.
Several street parking areas on Chapman Avenue and Orange Street have transformed to add extra outdoor seating for local restaurants. “Grab and go” zones have been added along Chapman Avenue to make pick-up orders easier.
In Pasadena, more street dining areas are planned to open in the following locations by July 25:
- Colorado Boulevard between El Molino and Oak Knoll avenues
- Colorado Boulevard between Oak Knoll and Hudson avenues (south curb only)
- Green Street between Pasadena and De Lacey avenues (north curb/half block)
- Green Street between De Lacey and Raymond avenues (south curb)
- Colorado Boulevard between Fair Oaks and Raymond avenues (north curb)
- Colorado Boulevard between Raymond Avenue and Arroyo Parkway (north curb/no parking)
“With the governor’s most recent health order restricting indoor, sit-down dining, but allowing for outdoor sit-down dining, the need for restaurants to identify outdoor seating areas has been a priority,” read a statement from the city.
Pasadena’s transportation department has developed guidelines for outdoor dining permits. The new Temporary On-Street Dining Application can be found on the city’s website.