Birmingham excites sidewalks by sacrificing parking spaces

Posted by Eric Brown | Filed under uncategorized


Birmingham has taken an innovative approach to marketing their City and have helped local business with some outdoor space. What an outstanding and innovative concept. I had the opportunity to spend the day with the brains behind this idea Mark Nickita last fall on a day trip to Columbus OH, Birmingham is quite fortunate to have Mark, May Royal Oak find some like talent to help navigate our City, We hope so, Royal Oak, are you listening?????

More on this story after the jump

The below story is from our friend Jon Zemke over at metromode on 6/4/2009.

Birmingham excites sidewalks by sacrificing parking spaces

Downtown Birmingham is sacrificing a few parking spots to make room for more excitement on its sidewalks.

The city recently liberalized its bistro policy, so that downtown businesses who want to serve alcohol can do so as long as they offer outdoor seating during the warmer months. Some businesses don’t have much sidewalk to take advantage of, so the city allows them to rent street parking spots in front of their storefronts.

These establishments build platforms in the parking spots that basically extend the sidewalk, making room for seating. This puts more people and eyes outdoors, increasing streetside activity and vibrancy. It’s the type of policy that would make Jane Jacobs proud.

“It’s a very innovative policy,” says Mark Nickita, a member of the Birmingham Planning Board. “To get a liquor license you have to do all of these good things for the city. It makes the street more active, fun and interesting.”

It also means good things for businesses. Dick O’Dow’s did this and watched its revenue grow dramatically. So much so that over half a dozen restaurants and bars have followed suit, doubling or even tripling the amount of outdoor seating in the downtown.

Increased vertical space makes it viable for more small storefronts to set up shop in the city’s center, which gives people more reasons to come downtown.

“It hasn’t been done around here at all,” Nickita says. “I don’t know of any other community that does it and we love it.”

Source: Mark Nickita, member of the Birmingham Planning Board
Writer: Jon Zemke

Related posts:

  1. Stuff To Do The DIY Street Fair
  2. Downtown Royal Oak has first-run theater potential
  3. Royal Oak could nix downtown pub
  4. The Flute House
  5. Downtown Ferndale Sidewalk Sale & Food Drive

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Permalink | June 11th, 2009

19 Responses to “Birmingham excites sidewalks by sacrificing parking spaces”

  1. yadayadayada Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 7:25 am

    I am all for dinning alfresco and all………but “converted parking spot dinning deck” looks stupid cuz it is stupid……..I was think outdoor more like La Dolche Vita or the best back yard in the motor city The Old Miami………..bham sucks boring boring boring

  2. Eric Brown Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 7:43 am

    Good Morning YadaYda, Thanks for stopping by.
    The decks do look a little strange I agree, but I thought it was an interesting and innovative idea.

    I haven’t actually sat on one yet to get the feel of the experience, has anyone else?

  3. yadayadayada Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 7:57 am

    it has a certain zoo like feel……….deck or no deck dick o dows blows the food is embarrassing and the beer is appropriately Birmingham taxed…….

  4. Eric Brown Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 8:13 am

    Yadayda,
    The decks do look sort of like a zoo island, but non the less, still innovative. I applaud Birmingham for trying something new.

    Perhaps Mark will stop by and give us some insight on how they are working out,

  5. Matt Dibble Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 8:17 am

    Uhhh… to me it looks like a deck. I’m not the biggest fan of Birmingham either, but it seems to fit the feel of what’s going on down there and I don’t see any esthetic issue at all.
    Look at the places in Royal Oak that offer outdoor seating. It’s always packed; Mr. B’s, Bastone, Monterrey. There’s always a wait to eat outside at Monterrey and Mr. B’s.
    But I’d be interested to hear from the owners themselves if any of them think there’s value to this.

  6. Eric Brown Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 8:23 am

    Good Morning Matt,
    It would also be interesting to here how much it costs the business to do that, as there is an additional fee that the City charges.

    One benefit too is that it pushes street parking to a parking garage, which seems more walkable.

    It is interesting to hear the negative Birmingham comments, I was a little surprised.

    I have reached out to mark, hopefully he can stop by and comment. he is a really cool cat,

  7. Matt Dibble Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 8:58 am

    I’d imagine there’s a pretty substantial cost if the business’s revenue grows dramatically.
    I don’t think Birmingham’s got much to offer… and many of the Birmingham residents I know think that the sun rises and sets on their little city. I don’t know… maybe it’s a “little brother” complex with Royal Oaksters.

  8. chet Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 9:35 am

    Perfectly put Matt…….b-ham is nothing but an empty shinny kelly green suit……I can not stand the attitude after all its woodward ave not 5th ave and it never will be….give me grit and grime any day!!

  9. Tim Marks Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 10:07 am

    BHam is BHam and RO is RO. So be it. Whjat BHam is doing thqat RO is not is THINKING. Ideas are good!!!

    Here is an idea, whqat does everyone think. Close Washington and Main St to traffic on every Sunday, June thru Sept. Most cross streets would remain open to allow access to parking lots, especially for residents of downtown. I know the logistics are difficult but I think it is doable. What do you think

  10. John S Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 10:27 am

    It reminds me of outside dining on Main St. in Ann Arbor, with the sidewalk between the restaurant and the seating area - but without on-street parking as a buffer.

    I think that stretch of Maple is already 2 lanes, though, so they don’t have as much room to work with.

  11. Matt Dibble Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 10:29 am

    For sure this is a great, fresh idea… I wish we would do things like this (instead of the fighting and side taking… see here http://www.urbaneapts.com/urbanereflections-blog/?p=1766).

    I like the idea of no traffic too. I would love to see a non motorized traffic community. What an amazing atmosphere that would create. Could probably generate a lot of press as well, go along well with the Recycle Royal Oak event they just had.

  12. Eric Brown Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 10:38 am

    Tim and Matt
    I love the idea, or at least some version of it and think that Royal Oak should experiment with new things and continue to Re-Invent themselves. To your point, they could gain national attention, tons of free (and good) press, Perhaps give new business and people a reason to come to or to stay in MI

  13. Anonymous Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    We’ve traveled several places where they close downtown streets on a specified day or two during the weekend, at least on a seasonal basis.
    Tim and I visited Ottawa many years ago and remember strolling down by the Rideau Canal in that city along a pedestrian mall created by closing the street by the canal to vehicular traffic for the day.
    We were in Memphis a few years back and spent a lot of time strolling along Beale Street by all of the blues clubs. Beale was closed to cars during the weekend, although they kept the cross streets open. Lots of activity out there including some music…some even provided by (oh no!) buskers.
    Tim’s been saying we should close Washington and Main on summer Sundays in downtown for years. We’ve seen it work well in other cities and don’t see why we couldn’t give it a try here.
    Quick Google search=this article from the Windsor Star where their downtown business group proposed something similar during last year’s Freedom fest fireworks.
    http://www2.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=1053bbbc-04a5-4758-8ab9-0d6eb24fd8d2&k=50100
    Anyone know if they tried it, and what happened if they did?

  14. DominiqueKing Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    How’d that happen? Somehow I got logged off between comments…That last “Anonymous” comment was mine…if you hadn’t already figured it out :)

  15. DominiqueKing Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    All that being said, I don’t personally care for a deck so close to the street. I was out on the sidewalk cafe at Bean & Leaf in downtown RO this morning–it was hard to hear myself think or hear what anyone was saying when the big trucks rumbled by. I like a deck or sidewalk dining area with a little more distance between me and the traffic/exhaust/street noise.
    I do like the fact that Birmingham is willing to try something a little different, though. If enough people enjoy it, then it’s a good idea for them.
    That’s the problem I see in RO. The City doesn’t want to try new things if “that hasn’t been the pattern in the past” or if the PTB don’t personally like it.

  16. Becks Davis Says:
    June 12th, 2009 at 12:50 am

    A few of you may know this already, but Dick O’Dows is my local pub. I’ve been a regular there since 1999. This isn’t the first year that they’ve had this outside patio that takes up 2 parking spots.

    What I’ve been told by the owner, managers, and staff is that: a) the customers love the patio and b) the patio brings in customers that wouldn’t normally go into a bar.

    This is smart business both by the city and the individual establishment. Whether you or I would sit out there (I haven’t) isn’t the issue, on nice days and nights it’s full. Comparing Royal Oak & Birmingham isn’t the issue, they are different cities each with their own vibe. I agree with Tim and Eric that at least they are trying to do something different.

    On a side note, having lived in the UK where ‘pedestrian only’ city centers are the norm, I think it would be great if it caught on here.

  17. Mark Nickita, AIA Says:
    June 12th, 2009 at 3:02 am

    Eric,
    Thanks for bringing this issue up for discussion. A conversation about how we can make our urban and walkable communities better is always welcome.

    The Bham Planning board has been working on many ways of increasing the pedestrian-oriented environment in downtown, the Rail district and the newly established Triangle District. We are looking at positive alterations to the sidewalk cafes, crosswalks, passages, midblock cut-throughs, narrowing street lanes, additional on-street parking and pedestrian-friendly alleys just to name a few issues.

    We are pleased with the progress regarding the sidewalk cafe additions, the deck seating into the parking zone and the newly established Bistro Licenses that we have permitted in the last two years. My understanding is that the added deck seating is very successful from a business standpoint as well. The restaurants/cafes owners that I have spoken to whom have chosen to build one of these decks have found it to be profitable.

    From an urban design perspective, the decks that sit on the street parking spaces add outdoor seating where it would not be possible or where it would be very minimal - just a couple tables at best. The restaurant leases the space from the city - which equates to the loss of city revenue from a parking space for the months that they are occupying the space. In most cases, the decks are on streets that are narrow, like Maple/Hamilton/Harmon, where the traffic is slow and not very loud. Additionally, these decks slow traffic down , as drivers seem to recognize the situation and the deck location narrows the street perception.

    Regarding Royal Oak vs Birmingham - I see them as two alternative, successful, urban, pedestrian-friendly environments that make up a string of great places to be from the Detroit River Downtown to Cranbrook. This linear city of 18 miles along Woodward Avenue is the most important street in Michigan - with countless cultural, civic, educational, institutional, recreational and livable assets. Lets embrace the great places and work to make them better!!

  18. Eric Brown Says:
    June 12th, 2009 at 9:58 am

    Just wanted to thank everyone for their input and comments, much appreciated. Also, a big shout out to Mark for stopping by, and for having the courage to push this through in Birmingham

    Irrespective of the various opinions about the concept, just trying something new and innovative is refreshing,

  19. Apartments in Royal Oak | the urbane life Says:
    January 24th, 2010 at 9:13 am

    [...] to a post by Frank Versagi, discussions of a one year

Leave a Reply