City council orders removal of all outdoor dining decks

DECKS COME DOWN: Manhattan Beach residents eat outside Hennessys on the outdoor dining decks. Based upon the Jan. 17 city council decision, the temporary decks will come down on Feb.18 or up to ten days after. Photo by McLean Grimes/La Vista

By McLean Grimes

Executive News Editor

In a unanimous vote on Jan. 17, Manhattan Beach City Council ordered the removal of the city’s downtown outdoor dining decks.

The decks were originally put up to aid local restaurants in Covid-19 restrictions in accordance with this state of emergency. On Feb. 28, the California State of Emergency will end, allowing the dining decks to come down. Following this date, restaurants will have up to ten days to remove the areas.

PARKING SPACES: Each deck that went up around Manhattan Beach pertained to a certain
restaurant. Each deck took up several parking spaces, which is one of the primary reasons the
city council ordered its removal. Photo by McLean Grimes/La Vista

“I thought it was an innovative way to solve a problem during Covid-19 for restaurants,” said junior Maddie Johnson.

At the Jan. 17 meeting, the council voted 5-0 in favor of removing the temporary decks. However, due to public favor, the council is seeking a way for permanent decks to be put up and will take applications from restaurants to be reviewed by chosen residents for this task force.

MANHATTAN BEACH: City council ordered the removal of all outdoor dining decks in downtown
Manhattan Beach. However, there is still potential for the decks to come back up, due to public
favor. Photo by McLean Grimes/La Vista

“I think the idea of replacing the temporary decks with permanent decks at restaurants will prolong the parking problems downtown,” said Manhattan Beach resident Giuwels Costa.

On June 9, 2020, the council originally voted in favor of opening the decks. The council has extended the outdoor dining decks since this original vote.

FIRST DECK: One of the first decks along Manhattan Beach Blvd is the Culture Brewing Co
deck. As shown in the photo, it is a simpler deck with less decoration other than the logo. Photo
by McLean Grimes/La Vista

“I think it’s good because if there’s less parking than it means more people will walk,” said Johnson. “Therefore we’re reducing more emissions and making the community less crowded.”

26 restaurants currently use the outdoor dining decks. Each of these take up several parking spaces in the city.

“The outdoor dining decks are cute but I feel like the parking spaces would be more convenient now that there are more people and activity happening downtown,” said junior Alli Custer. “At the same time, people are always out there, and it’s not taking up that much space in the first place.”