Ypsilanti’s city council has approved street closures to allow restaurants and bars to expand their seating areas outdoors because of COVID-19.
The closures are expected to take place between June 8th and September 8th and include East Cross Street in Depot Town, as well as Washington Street, between Pearl and Michigan Avenue. Mayor Beth Bashert says social distancing guidelines will reduce indoor seating capacity by about 50%.
Mayor Beth Bashert: In addition, there’s a number of parking spaces that we’re going to be protecting from traffic and making into pleasant patios for folks on Michigan Avenue, on West Cross.
The city plans to work with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to allow restaurants with patios to have alcohol service within their expanded outdoor boundaries.
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— Jorge Avellan is a reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him javellan@emich.edu