PORT TOWNSEND — One of this city’s pandemic-era programs could become permanent starting this spring.
Port Townsend’s “streateries,” drinking-and-dining spaces set up on city right-of-way, first got City Council approval in mid-2020, and a handful of restaurants set them up downtown and Uptown. As the virus held on, the streatery program was renewed three times, with the latest extension set to end May 9 right after Mother’s Day.
During its in-person and online business meeting Monday night, the City Council devoted nearly an hour to the idea of making the on-the-asphalt cafes part of the streetscape and the municipal code.
“I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Europe,” said council member Libby Wennstrom, adding that, there, sidewalk cafes add to a lively feeling — even in colder places such as northern Germany.
“They manage,” she said.
Jeanette Testu, whose Seal Dog Coffee business shares a streatery with the Uptown Pub on Lawrence Street, wants to continue managing.
In a text message, she said she “absolutely loves” the alfresco space, and if the city makes streateries permanent, she may invest in a roof, benches and geraniums.
“That little streatery kept us in business during tough times,” she said.
If the city opts to charge businesses a fee for the outdoor seating, Testu said she’ll be happy to pay it.
A permanent streatery “would be especially helpful for our business because our square footage is so small,” she noted.
At the same time, streateries are taking about 10 parking spaces out of the downtown-Uptown equation. In a survey by the Port Townsend Main Street Program last year, business owners complained about that and about the way some of the streateries look.
Main Street and the city will conduct another survey via Facebook and their websites later this month. To receive the survey directly, people can sign up for Main Street’s e-newsletter via https://ptmainstreet.org by Sunday.
“Our existing streateries are tired. They’ve been beat up by the weather,” city Public Works Director Steve King told the council.
King then outlined the plan for surveying the community about permanent streateries, proposing city code changes and potentially approving those changes — all by May 2.
Restaurateur Kris Nelson, owner of Sirens Pub and the Whiskey Mill and former owner of Alchemy Bistro, set up three downtown streateries in 2020.
In her comments to the council, she spoke of how city streets should belong to pedestrians, bicyclists and people who want to dine outdoors — and not just to cars.
Nelson emphasized that, with permanent streateries, she’d be inclined to take hers to the next level, making them prettier and more wheelchair-friendly.
“I want to build something … that adds to our streets and makes them attractive, and not just keep putting rope on my tent,” she told the council.
Council member Owen Rowe, while admitting he was “intimidated” by the tight timeline for revising the municipal code, suggested an additional idea.
“I wonder if there’s a way to incorporate food trucks,” or a food-truck court in the streatery program, he said.
Near the end of the discussion, Wennstrom put in one more point.
“We still have a pandemic going on,” she said, “and there’s a lot of people who don’t feel comfortable eating indoors,” so keeping and even expanding streateries, she believes, would add “a real value to the community.”
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Jefferson County Senior Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@peninsuladailynews.com.
