Residents of Chinatown are expressing strong opposition to the city’s plans for open street parties along Canal Street this spring. They feel that last year’s changes, which closed off two blocks of Canal Street from 3 PM to 11 PM daily from April to October, turned their once peaceful neighborhood into a chaotic party scene.
The closures allowed bars and restaurants to expand their outdoor seating, adding hundreds of seats to the street. Residents have described the situation as a “free-for-all,” with one neighbor calling the addition of 300 diners without extra restroom facilities “psychotic.” They have reported rampant public urination and rowdy behavior, with one resident sharing a particularly unpleasant encounter where they were threatened for asking someone not to urinate in public.
The frustrations of the community have led to a campaign that highlights the negative impacts of the street parties, including images of public urination and disorderly conduct. This effort managed to persuade City Hall to reject a recent application from a wine bar, Le Dive, for additional sidewalk seating. However, residents remain skeptical, fearing that the bar will still find a way to add more outdoor seats.
Jon Neidich, the owner of Le Dive, argues that restaurants are being unfairly blamed for the chaos, stating that their goal is simply to serve customers at their tables. Meanwhile, residents are pushing for limits on the Canal Open Streets program, hoping to reduce the number of seats available to restaurants and to end the parties earlier in the evening.
The situation has also affected local businesses. Some shop owners claim that the street closures have hurt their sales, as customers struggle to access their stores. One business owner lamented that the blocked entrances have driven away customers who come to pick up heavy equipment.
The community’s concerns have been heightened by incidents of violence, including a recent stabbing that left a 26-year-old man injured. Residents have voiced their frustrations about having to clean up after the parties, often dealing with broken glass and other messes left behind.
As the spring season approaches, the Department of Transportation has confirmed that Canal Open Streets will operate from Thursday to Sunday, a reduction from the previous seven days a week. Residents hope this will help alleviate some of their concerns, but many are still advocating for stricter limits on outdoor dining and more control over the street parties.