News Summary
Northville is currently in a legal battle between the nonprofit Let’s Open Northville and city officials over newly installed street barriers that inhibit outdoor dining. Let’s Open Northville claims these barriers violate a previous court order meant to reopen certain streets. The city defends the barriers for safety reasons, leading to concerns from local restaurants about the impact on their revenue. Upcoming court proceedings will address these issues, as the community grapples with the balance between traffic management and support for local businesses.
Northville is engulfed in a legal dispute between the nonprofit organization Let’s Open Northville and the city regarding street barriers that have affected downtown dining. An emergency motion filed on July 18 by Let’s Open Northville raises questions about the legality of concrete barriers recently installed by the city, which they argue violate a judge’s order to reopen certain streets by obstructing parking spaces. This ongoing legal battle is a follow-up to a two-year court case in which Let’s Open Northville succeeded in compelling the city to remove the concrete bollards that previously restricted vehicle access to key areas in downtown.
The recent emergency motion highlights that many local restaurants already have existing sidewalk dining options, suggesting that the newly installed barriers are unnecessary. In response to these developments, Kate Knight, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), expressed surprise, clarifying that both the city and the DDA believe they are fully compliant with the court’s ruling. The current legal skirmish revolves around the implications of street dining, which has been part of the downtown landscape for over a decade.
Let’s Open Northville is not only seeking compliance with the original court order but also fines against the city and coverage for attorney fees. This conflict arises from the city’s stance that their use of parking spaces remains consistent with practices before a special event permit was approved in 2020. The city justifies the installation of barriers as a necessary safety measure, having received consent from nearby property owners to do so.
The potential impact on local businesses has been surprising, especially for establishments like Browndog Barlor and Restaurant, which have invested significantly in outdoor dining arrangements that have become crucial for their revenue streams. The co-owner of Browndog Barlor has expressed worries that ceasing street dining could drastically affect their profitability, especially considering the volatile nature of business revenue during the ongoing pandemic recovery.
An upcoming court session scheduled for the following Monday will address the issue of the street barriers directly. A recent court ruling mandated the reopening of streets that were previously closed for summer dining, including parts of Main and Center Streets. Following this decision, city officials were given seven days to comply by removing the barriers, which were initially intended to foster pedestrian foot traffic to benefit local restaurants and shops.
The community response to this reopening has been mixed. Some stakeholders believe relaxing the road closures will invigorate commerce, while others were content with the tranquility that accompanied reduced vehicle traffic. In light of these concerns, the DDA is currently exploring temporary safety solutions for outdoor dining. They are also planning to invest in a more permanent safety strategy for the future.
One such strategy includes the installation of retractable bollards, which are expected to provide greater flexibility in managing street closures during events while keeping streets accessible to traffic at other times. The financial burden for this installation—approximately $200,500—is being shared equally by the city and the DDA.
As part of the new plan, businesses and local residents can anticipate that streets will generally remain open to traffic from November 1 until May 1, with possible temporary closures during the winter months. Business reactions to the reopening have been varied; while some greet the return to traditional street traffic with enthusiasm, others mourn the possible decrease in foot traffic that benefited their earnings during the prior closure periods.
To navigate the emerging changes in street usage, the city manager has indicated that they will fully comply with the court’s ruling while engaging in ongoing communication with local businesses. As the situation develops, stakeholders in Northville remain hopeful for a resolution that balances the needs of both businesses and residents.
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Additional Resources
- WXYZ: Northville Street Dining at Risk
- Wikipedia: Northville, Michigan
- Fox 2 Detroit: Court Orders Northville Streets Reopen
- Google Search: Northville Street Dining Legal Battle
- Hometown Life: Northville Streets Reopen
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Street Dining
Author: STAFF HERE NORTHVILLE WRITER
The NORTHVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENorthville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Northville, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Summer Concert Series, Tunes on Tuesday, and the Northville Farmers Market. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Northville Chamber of Commerce and Northville Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, software, and retail that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Reliable Software, and Attendance on Demand. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
