Outdoor retail and dining areas could be here to stay, according to panelists at a recent CREW San Diego event, which analyzed the lasting effects of the pandemic. The conversation included Howard Blackson of AVRP Studio; David McCullough of McCullough Landscape Architecture; Christopher Bittner of OBR architecture; Alyssa Muto of the environmental policy and public space in the planning department at the City of San Diego; and Penny Maus of the Port of San Diego, who served as moderator.

"We've been shifting to multi-modal streets for quite a while," Blackson said at the event, adding that these spaces include roundabouts, bike lanes and parklets. "We are moving that way because the streets were designed in 1880s for a horse-and-cart to do full turn. We have excessively wide streets." Using these areas is not only beneficial during the pandemic, but it is a way to expand revenue out in the future, creating mixed-use streets. "Rules and regulations from 60's to today were car-focused," added Blackson. "Now it's people focused. City leadership is listening to new ideas. If you want to be engaged, now is a great time to be engaged."

Bittner also had experience creating multi-modal areas for restaurants. He struggled with community arguments. "When I designed the first parklet in front of Café Calabria, we heard all arguments: no one wants sit in the street; people will die; people can't park in front of the business," he said. However, the numbers quickly disproved the naysayers. "In first year of parklet, business went up 30% because more people in front of their business. Cars slow down because of something in parking space," he added.