EAST LANSING, Mich. — With the opening of downtown East Lansing’s first Open-Air Dining Area yesterday, motorists are advised that Albert Avenue will be closed to traffic from east of the Albert Avenue Garage entrance to M.A.C. Avenue until approximately Aug. 15. Traffic barricades are in place.
The Albert Avenue Garage, 188 Albert Ave., remains accessible to eastbound Albert Avenue traffic from Abbot Road, and the Grove Street Garage, 330 Grove St., remains accessible to northbound and southbound Abbot Road traffic by taking Linden Street to Grove Street.
Community members are reminded that free, two-hour parking is being offered in all gated facilities in downtown East Lansing through the end of June. Fees will be automatically reduced by two hours when entrance tickets are inserted at the exits of the facilities.
About the Open-Air Dining Area
On the evening of Thursday, June 11, a pilot Open-Air Dining Area opened on Albert Avenue, where take-out food and packaged alcohol purchased from downtown restaurants can be consumed in a physically distanced outdoor setting. Picnic tables have been placed in the area of Albert Avenue, between the east side of the Albert Avenue Garage entrance and M.A.C. Avenue. Patrons of the area should keep the following in mind:
- The area will be open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
- Patrons must purchase food and unopened alcohol from licensed restaurants within three blocks of the area.
- Alcohol must be in original packaging and may only be opened and consumed within the area.
- Smoking and amplified sound are not permitted within the area.
- There is a two-hour time limit for patrons in the area.
- A sanitation team will be on site to clean tables; however, patrons are asked to pick up after themselves and throw items in the trash and recycling receptacles within the area.
- Patrons are asked to maintain safe physical distancing from other groups using the area and masks should be worn inside restaurants when picking up food.
- Patrons are asked to continue to keep all of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance for protecting themselves and others from COVID-19 in mind: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.
“This is a new endeavor that we are trying out to support our downtown restaurants and we appreciate the community’s patience as we move through our opening phases. We also encourage community members to maintain physical distancing and enjoy the area in a responsible manner, so that we are able to keep it open in support of our downtown businesses,” said East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas.