Midtown expanded outdoor dining
We engaged Midtown businesses and other stakeholders over two years to develop the Midtown Streetscape Concept Design. This plan was endorsed by Council in December 2020.
We installed the Midtown Expanded Outdoor Dining Trial in 2021 for an initial 12-month period. It was supported by the Tasmanian Government through the Ready for Business Program.
This pilot aimed to provide the opportunity to learn how increased outdoor dining space can contribute to city life and support hospitality businesses in Hobart.
The temporary spaces provide an opportunity to test and refine the concept on the ground with a low-cost, reversible solution before implementing a more significant streetscape upgrade.
Each site has a 'host' business which will have a permit to occupy the space for trading, during their operating hours. Host businesses are Island Espresso, The Stagg, Grinners Dive Bar and Rude Boy. Outside of the hosts' operating hours, the areas and seating are part of the streetscape and are available for all to enjoy.
The outdoor dining platforms have been co-designed with local hospitality businesses who are participating in the program.
Community consultation
The community survey on the trial received more than 700 responses which were overwhelmingly positive. 74 per cent were either happy or very happy with the trial.
We also invited the 112 business and property owners located in the area to provide their feedback through an online survey. Of the 18 responses received, 39 per cent of respondents confirmed they had positive impact on their business income. 33 per cent a negative impact, and 28 per cent no impact.
Most respondents agreed that the trial improved pedestrian safety and slowed traffic, provided a 'positive vibe', and encouraged people to stay longer.
Future for Midtown – Elizabeth Street Vision
The Central Hobart Plan (CHP) which was adopted by the Council in September 2023, proposes a number of built form controls, open space improvements and other actions to improve the liveability of our city centre over the next two decades.
Midtown plays a very important role within the context of the CHP.
The small and boutique businesses, the heritage shopfronts, and the emerging night-time economy are all highlighted in the CHP as objectives in the newly identified Innovation Precinct along with Midtown’s role in providing new opportunities for a vibrant city.
Midtown will also form part of a wider Elizabeth Street Vision Plan - a key action identified in the CHP.
Looking at Elizabeth Street as a whole, will allow the future of the street to be explored in a way that considers how people and vehicles move through the space, as well as opportunities to improve the quality of the street.
The Street Vision Plan will be developed in collaboration with stakeholders over the coming year and will be informed by the previous work of Midtown Project Action Team and the results of the Midtown extended outdoor dining trial.
The Elizabeth Street Vision is expected to take at least two years to develop to a stage where a detailed design will be ready to deliver.
Due to the support of both the majority of the business and the community the trial will remain in place until a more permanent streetscape upgrade is delivered as part of the Elizabeth Street Vision.