The Los Angeles Department of Transportation Friday implemented the first partial street closure for the L.A. Al Fresco program in North Hollywood.
The program supports restaurants affected by COVID-19 through permits for outdoor dining options on sidewalks, private parking lots and on streets by converting parking lanes and travel lanes to dining areas.
“We’ve empowered business owners and neighbors to tell us how they would like to use streets,” LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds said. “In hundreds of places across the city, they’ve told us that creating places for people to safely gather is a priority.”
The first partial street closure involved converting a parking lane and eastbound travel lane on Magnolia Boulevard between Lankershim Boulevard and Vineland Avenue, according to the LADOT.
The dining area will serve several restaurants which will be able to offer outdoor dining in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
The restaurants partnered with the office of Councilman Paul Krekorian to request and collaborate with the city on the partial street closure.
“Our NoHo Al Fresco program will be a lifesaver for some of the extraordinary independent restaurants that make the NoHo Arts District what it is,” Krekorian said “L.A. restaurants and their employees have suffered so much during this pandemic, and this program will provide dining opportunities for patrons who are eager to meet in a safe and socially-distanced environment.”
To date, 1667 businesses have been approved for an L.A. Al Fresco outdoor dining permit.
LADOT said it is planning additional street closures in communities throughout Los Angeles, including Little Tokyo, Leimert Park and Silverlake.
More information about the program is available at corona-virus.la/laalfresco.