Chicago & Midwest CRE News In Your Inbox.
Sign up for Connect emails to stay informed with CRE stories that are 150 words or less.
Lightfoot Administration Introduces Plan to Increase Outdoor Dining
The Lightfoot administration on Friday announced Chicago Alfresco, an initiative to increase outdoor dining area and the opportunity for businesses and community organizations to design creative long-term outdoor spaces. It follows a program introduced last to increase dining spaces amid safety regulations from the COVID-19 pandemic.
While that program will continue as it did last year, the city is now encouraging chambers of commerce and other neighborhood community groups to think beyond emergency traffic barricades and construction cones to propose and build design-forward outdoor community spaces.
“Outdoor dining has become a lifeline for so many of our neighborhoods, but not all of them have been able to take advantage of our safe, outdoor dining programs,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “And by creating and transforming public spaces, the Chicago Alfresco initiative will significantly increase our city’s ability to fully revitalize the public way.”
- ◦Economy
