Customers could exit bars and restaurants in downtown Port Huron with an alcoholic beverage in hand if plans to establish a “social district” move forward.
A new state law allows communities to establish districts where neighboring licensed establishments could sell drinks in specialty cups for consumption in common areas. During Monday’s meeting, City Council members will consider asking the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to sign off on a plan founding the Port Huron Social District to put the idea into place.
Cynthia Cutright, the city’s Downtown Development Authority director, said they’ve been mulling over the idea since April or May, when officials weren’t sure the state law would pass.
Since July 1, when the law was signed, she said they “took pretty much immediate action” to move forward on the idea.
“We’re excited for what this cold mean for downtown Port Huron,” she said. “We would be one of the first communities to implement this, so it’s fun to be ahead of the curve.”
How would the district work?
City Manager James Freed gave council members an early heads up on the item in an email Thursday.
Downtown patrons, he wrote, could “buy a drink at one place and go to another place that doesn’t have a license like Chef Shells and Maria’s and consume a drink” in addition to taking them to a designated gathering area outdoors in the district. However, patrons couldn’t go from one bar or restaurant with alcohol to another — meaning they couldn’t barhop with their beverage.
The district would follow downtown’s Main Street along Huron Avenue and Military Street between Glenwood Avenue and Court Street, according to the plan.
Two common areas would be established in the district — one on the McMorran Place Arena boulevard and the pocket park at the northwest corner of Water and Military streets.
Streets downtown would remain open as part of the district.
The city’s draft plan lists a long list of potential liquor license holders that could participate, including, Casey’s Pizza and Subs, the Brass Rail, Martina’s Grill, Lynch’s Irish Tavern, the Alley Room, Roche Bar, Wings Etc., Zebra Lounge, CityFloats and Raven Café. Any participant would enter a social district agreement with the city, so permits could be issued by the MLCC.
There were roughly as many other restaurants listed where businesses could allow beverages be brought in.
By Friday, Cutright said she had reached out to a couple of restaurants downtown who she thought would be “especially interested” in the idea.
“I haven’t reached out to all of the businesses (and would wait) until this officially passes,” Cutright said. “I really think our businesses would be in favor of anything to bring folks downtown and to stay downtown.”
Also under the plan, the social district would be financed through the sale of cups and stickers by the DDA. Cups would have an upcharge from 50 cents to $1 per cup, and stickers would be sold for $1.
Timeline, other details on the district
It wasn’t clear when it would be approved by the MLCC if endorsed by council, though the city’s plan states the intent was to implement the district by July 17.
Freed said they wanted to “deploy them as fast as possible.”
When asked about establishing something downtown to help businesses versus the rest of Port Huron, the city manager said they’re taking advantage of opportunities as they come. This one happened to work downtown, he said, also pointing to $75,000 in federal COVID-19 aid the city’s received and is distributing citywide as business assistance grants through the Economic Alliance of St. Clair County.
“At this point, we will use every legislative means necessary to support our downtown businesses,” Freed said.
It also wasn’t clear how long the social district would be in place.
The city’s plan proposes a season starting May 1 and ending Oct. 31.
“I think we would like to theoretically see it in place permanently,” Cutright said. “To us, this is not going to be a coronavirus fix. … If the businesses like it, the community appreciates it and everything goes smoothly with it, I don’t see a reason it (couldn’t continue).”
Also, the plan cites the city’s police department and ability to hire additional security in its public safety piece. It was another area, Cutright said, they’d get more involved with if the idea is approved.
Comparing the idea to something like the popular Pub Crawl event, which occurs every March around St. Patrick’s Day, Cutright added, “Our community members respect the downtown, so I’m not too terribly concerned.”
The City Council meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Municipal Office Center, 100 McMorran Blvd. Agendas are available online at https://ift.tt/305Ges3.
Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
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Port Huron weighing 'social district' for downtown, enabling visitors to leave bars with alcoholic beverages - The Times Herald
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