One of Pasadena’s most well-known streets, Colorado Boulevard, will get a makeover starting this Saturday, July 11 as it becomes the first location in the city to offer outdoor dining in city streets. The State of California’s recent directive to limit dining indoors has resulted in the expansion of outdoor dining a priority for local governments and restaurateurs.
The City has worked closely with The Playhouse Village and Old Pasadena Management District in identifying locations for street closures for on-street dining that best support local restaurants. Community members can expect to see partial street closures in the following areas:
- On Colorado between Madison Avenue to El Molino Avenue (north and south curb).
- On Colorado between Fair Oaks Avenue to Raymond Avenue (south curb only).
- Union Street west of Raymond Avenue (north side).
Starting Friday, crews will be out to reconfigure these street segments. Streets will be reconfigured to allow for one lane of travel in each direction and will include a limited number of diagonal parking spaces with the intent of continuing to provide opportunities for curbside pick-up for retail merchants. Transit services will continue on their designated routes, but bus stops within these designated street segments will be relocated to nearby temporary bus stops.
The city will continue to work on advancing plans for additional on-street dining opportunities and are anticipating the following partial street closures to be in place by July 25, if not sooner:
- Colorado between El Molino Avenue to Oak Knoll Avenue.
- Colorado between Oak Knoll Avenue to Hudson Avenue (south curb only).
- Green St between Pasadena Avenue to De Lacey Avenue (north curb/half block).
- Green St between De Lacey Avenue to Raymond Avenue (south curb).
- Colorado Blvd between Fair Oaks Avenue to Raymond Avenue (north curb).
- Colorado Blvd between Raymond Avenue to Arroyo Parkway (north curb/no parking).
The City’s Department of Transportation has developed guidelines that allow for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and restaurants, including those not located within a BID, to apply for an on-street dining permit. The new Temporary On-Street Dining application is now on the city website and can be accessed via the Rapid Reopening Permits & Plan Check Portal. In addition to on-street dining applications, interested restaurateurs can submit applications for a rapid review of outdoor dining permits for sidewalks and private property, conditional use permits for alcohol sales, and structural/non-structural tenant improvements. For more information and to submit an application, visit cityofpasadena.net/planning/permit-center/covid-19-reopening/.
