Residents may notice fewer bump-outs this spring in downtown Durango as a result of new fees and guidelines in place for the outdoor business extensions.
The number of bump-outs have decreased from 28 last year to 11 this year, with many notable businesses deciding not to re-up on the program.
Among the businesses that did not apply this year were Steamworks Brewing Co., El Moro Spirits and Tavern, the Strater Hotel and Hermosa Cafe.
Chimayo, Cream Bean Berry and Taco Libre are among the 11 businesses that will have bump-outs.
Business Improvement District Executive Director Tim Walsworth said it is likely a newly implemented bump-out fee and design guidelines deterred some businesses from pursuing the program this year.
The city is charging a flat rate of $6.30 per square-foot of space that extends into the public right of way. The fee was implemented this year as a way to make up for lost parking meter revenue that results from bump-outs taking up parking spots on Main Avenue.
“With all of that increased cost to the businesses, it didn’t make sense for some folks to have them anymore,” Walsworth said.
Durango Business Development Coordinator Tommy Crosby said the city estimates it lost about $44,000 in parking meter revenue last year with 28 bump-outs.
With fewer structures this year, Crosby expects the loss in parking revenue to be about $23,310 this year, but that is subject to change.
Bump-out fees will go to the city’s transportation department, community development department and the economic opportunity division.
In addition to the fee, the bump-out program instituted new design and style guidelines this year. For example, bump-outs can no longer have signage attached to them because signs can block line of sight for other businesses.
Also, if bump-outs use tents or umbrellas, they can no longer include logos.
The new design guidelines have not totally stymied creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
New this year is a “pedlet” in the 700 block of Main Avenue that extends the width of the sidewalk, which will allow restaurants to place outdoor seating next to their buildings as opposed to on Main Avenue. The pedlet allows extra room for pedestrians to go around the bistro-style seating.
The structure, being built by MODSTREET, extends the width of the sidewalk by 6 feet. It runs past Durango Rug Co., Switchback, Fired Up Pizza and Derailed Pour House on the west side of Main Avenue.
MODSTREET CEO Roger Zalneraitis described the concept as being only the floor of a typical bump-out.
The city wanted to find a way to have less congestion on that block of Main Avenue.
“The city has had a bistro table program that’s been around for many years and predates the bump-outs,” Crosby said. “That’s what we’re encouraging those businesses to do is have a more robust bistro table seating area against their businesses.”
The wider sidewalk should make it easier on restaurant staff members who will no longer have to cross a crowded sidewalk to deliver food and drinks to customers, he said.
The pedlet concept is one the city is considering with its Downtown’s Next Steps plan.
“It’s just kind of reversing how things have been structured for the last three years on that particular city block,” Zalneraitis said.
Another change this year involves updating the design guidelines to allow for better accessibility, especially for people with disabilities.
The changes help ensure bump-outs align with the curb or have ramps that meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
Durango Fire Protection District and the city’s code compliance staff will also inspect bump-outs this year.
Fewer bump-outs means more available parking spots downtown, Walsworth said.
He estimated that losing 17 bump-outs will help maintain 50 to 60 parking spaces.
The BID surveyed downtown businesses late last year and found that roughly 60% of businesses supported the continuation of bump-outs with some changes.
Peak Food & Beverage CEO Kris Oyler said it didn’t make much sense to reapply for the bump-out permit this year.
He said the new guidelines make bump-outs cost-prohibitive for Steamworks and El Moro, both owned by Peak Food & Beverage.
“There was just a lot of little things about curb height and width, and all that stuff,” Oyler said. “They were really discouraging the hardtop (roof) and wanting people to use umbrellas.”
He said the company had to raise wages between $21 and $29 per hour to keep both restaurants fully staffed. With employee wages averaging $25 per hour, adding another section to the restaurants was not cost-effective.
“I don’t think it’s really going to impact our business a whole lot,” he said. “They (bump-outs) were great during the pandemic because people needed to sit outside, but it’s not quite as necessary at this point.”
MODSTREET is a local business that started during the pandemic to manufacture bump-outs for businesses across the country. Zalneraitis said even though COVID-19 drove the demand for bump-outs, the outdoor seating areas have become a staple in many cities across the nation.
He said the pandemic redefined the way cities think about downtown development.
“Some towns are going to go back to the way things were, and some towns are going to want to do things differently like shutdown streets or create new pedestrian avenues that may involve parklets or fencing,” he said.
“I think it’s common in cities to put out regulations about standards for the design and add fees associated with it,” Zalneraitis said. “Some people opt not to move forward.”
He said Durango might see more applications in the future once businesses have had a chance to factor in the fees and other expenses associated with the evolving bump-out program.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
