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DDA clears American Social changes to expand outdoor seating and move entrance
Summary
The board approved modifications for the American Social restaurant to enlarge outdoor patio space, move the main entrance to the corner, and seek waivers to extend canopy coverage and adjust pedestrian streetscape requirements.
The Downtown Development Authority on April 14 approved requested modifications to the site plan for American Social at the corner of Second Avenue and Northeast First Street.
Consultant Christina Balenki presented the changes, saying the restaurant’s operator considered the outdoor seating "fairly important" and sought a larger, usable covered patio than the previously approved plan allowed. She asked the board to support waivers to eliminate portions of the curb zone adjacent to on‑street parking (to reconfigure the pedestrian zone) and to permit a canopy that extends to the property line rather than being limited to a 5‑foot projection.
Balenki described the prior approval as leaving less than 5 feet of outdoor seating depth in some places; the revised plan moves the main entrance to the corner and expands contiguous patio space wrapping the building’s corner. Her presentation showed proposed pedestrian‑streetscape adjustments and canopy designs. Board members discussed canopy details, landscaping continuity and valet/queuing logistics for the restaurant’s operations.
After questions from members about valet staging, landscaping retention and canopy details, a motion to approve the modifications was made, seconded and carried by voice vote with all members saying "aye." The board recorded no roll‑call vote tally in the public record.
Staff said final permitting and any required license or right‑of‑way approvals would follow typical city review and that utilities and landscape buffers could accommodate the requested curb‑zone adjustments. The board noted the project would support continued activation of Pineapple Grove and the connection between Atlantic Avenue and surrounding blocks.
The action was recorded as approval of the two downtown waivers (curb‑zone reduction adjacent to on‑street parking and canopy extension to property line) and the entrance relocation; details for enforcement and final canopy dimensions will be confirmed in permit review.
