New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day outlines proposal for DORA in downtown area

NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ Mayor Joel Day has sent a letter to New Philadelphia City Council members asking them to create a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) in downtown New Philadelphia .

"Downtown New Philadelphia is the undisputed heart of our community," he said in the letter, dated July 17. "With the threat to bricks and mortar retail from online merchants and fierce dining competition in the eastern Ohio market, we must do everything within our power to maintain the experiential nature of our historic downtown."

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The DORA would encompass an area bounded by Fair Avenue on the north, Front Avenue on the south, Second Street on the west and First Drive on the east.

The DORA program was created by the state in 2015. Under the rules, someone could purchase alcohol at a bar and walk around on the street with the beverage in a designated container with a logo on it. The container would have to be purchased at one of the participating establishments in the DORA. The container can only be used once. Businesses in the designated area can put up signs to prohibit the cups in their stores.

Under the mayor's proposal:

• The hours of operation for the DORA : Hours of the DORA will be in effect during special events. Organizers of special events must submit an application to the DORA Board to be included. The DORA will allow qualified permit holders to sell alcoholic beverages as part of providing an outdoor dining area, as long as beverages are provided in DORA cups and DORA signage is in place.
• Signage noting the boundaries ("No alcohol beyond this point'') should be placed on movable stanchions at each of the establishments during operating hours. The city will coordinate with each business to produce appropriate signage and a cohesive design.
• DORA cup labels consistent with DORA branding will be purchased and distributed by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1445 in New Philadelphia.
• The area of operation for the DORA will be expanded to any public area only during any event that is planned in conjunction with or by the DORA Board and coordinated with the city. This will include special events such as Art on the Alley, annual summer concerts, and any future planned events approved by the DORA Board.
• Members of the DORA Board will include the safety director, a downtown business owner, a city council member, a Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau representative and a representative of VFW Post 1445.

Eight qualified liquor permit holders will likely be included in the DORA ‒ Gavin's Grill, 110 S. Broadway; Broadway Brewhouse, 123 and 127-129 S. Broadway; Ricardo's Restaurant and Banquet Hall, 115 Front Ave. SW; Craft Bistro and Lounge, 104 Fair Ave. NE; the Wine Rack/Mustard's, 150 S. Broadway; JNG Grill, 114 Front Ave. SW; The Venue, 126 Front Ave. SW; and The Delaware, 112 Fair Ave. NE.

"By adopting this ordinance in accordance with the parameters listed above, the city will advance its position as a forward-thinking and appealing community for residents and visitors," Day wrote. "It will also show our restaurant and bar owners in this area that the city is responsive, progressive and understands the opportunities that this new legislation presents for their businesses, particularly because our streetscape is designed in such a way that would require expensive fencing in order to accomplish full service outdoor dining."

New Philadelphia council meets next at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the John Knisely Centre.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day outlines proposal for DORA in downtown area