MANSFIELD — Some minor changes may be coming to the downtown square.
One involves 28 N. Main St., formerly known as Ed Pickens’ Events and Catering. Dan Lew announced earlier this year that he would be taking over Pickens’ operation, calling it Dan Lew Exchange.
In addition to catering services, the business will include a restaurant that serves lunch and dinner.
Lew, joined by architect Dan Seckel and city engineer Bob Bianchi, addressed city council on Tuesday to discuss plans for outdoor dining at this location.
The idea is to have fencing installed on the sidewalk that abuts North Park Street and the restaurant to allow for dining within that fenced area, which would include three exits.
Seckel said the fencing would be relatively low and would be bolted to the ground, and could be removed during winter months if need be.
Another option under consideration is the addition of staggered fencing within the curved sidewalk area at the corner of North Main and North Park streets to allow for more outdoor dining.
“There’s not much happening in that little plaza area right now,” Seckel said. “There’s two trees and that’s it.
“We see that as a possible opportunity to establish some additional sidewalk dining.”
Council will consider legislation that would grant a license to Dan Lew Exchange to use the public right-of-way for the installation of fencing and outdoor furniture.
“Anytime a private citizen would like to put a fixed object inside the public right-of-way, a license from council is needed,” Bianchi said.
He added that council at any time has the right to withdraw the license.
Mayor Tim Theaker expressed his approval of the project.
“I think it’s a great idea,” he said. “I think that would be just the start of downtown outdoor dining.”
At-large councilman Don Bryant echoed the mayor’s comments, saying, “This is a great idea. I love this.”
“I think it’s a great idea, too,” third ward councilman Jon Van Harlingen added. “I think it’s a nice addition to get something started on the square.”
Also discussed during council’s streets committee meeting Tuesday was the removal of the kiosk located outside of Mechanics Bank that was constructed in the 1980s as part of a streetscape project.
“Mechanics Bank has requested that it be removed at their own cost,” Bianchi said.
Mechanics has invested in properties on the southwest side of the square over the past few years and has opened up its courtyard in the summer months for musical acts and performances for the public to enjoy, Seckel noted. The bank has also encouraged food/beverage trucks to that area.
“The kiosk to Mechanics is vestigial; it doesn’t really serve a purpose right now,” Seckel said.
“Over the past few years, the use of that kiosk has diminished.”
The bank would like to remove the kiosk to open up the area and enhance the aesthetics, he said.
Bryant didn’t share any qualms with this request.
“Get the thing out of there,” he said.
Seckel said the electrical receptacle on the side of the kiosk doesn’t work anymore. As part of the demolition, Mechanics would install a ground box, which would hopefully enable the company to reestablish the receptacle, he said.
“This is unusual. We don’t get this very much where a private entity wants to remove an object within a public right-of-way owned by the public, so we haven’t had this where we submit legislation,” Bianchi said.
Law Director John Spon said the request could be approved administratively and that it doesn’t require any formal legislation.
At-large councilman Cliff Mears didn’t have any objections.
“I would recommend administratively to do it just to expedite it,” he said.
Bryant seconded.
