Parking spots could become patios in downtown Oshawa

Downtown patio pilot. OSHAWA -- Darryl Koster, the owner of Buster Rhino's, approached the City of Oshawa last fall about converting on-street parking spaces in front of his restaurant into a patio in the summer. As a result, councillors are now considering a pilot project that would allow four restaurants to try it this summer. April 23, 2013 Jason Liebregts / Metroland

One of the big problems in the summer in the downtown is people aren't staying downtown to eat. Darryl Koster

Darryl Koster, president and pit boss at Buster Rhino's Southern BBQ, has been one of the driving forces behind the project.

He said customers from Toronto told him about the City shutting down a portion of Yonge Street for patios last summer, and he approached the City of Oshawa about a similar idea last year for his 28 King St. E. location.

"One of the big problems in the summer in the downtown is people aren't staying downtown to eat, they're going to Boston Pizza because they have a patio," said Mr. Koster.

City staff have prepared a plan for a downtown Oshawa cafe pilot project encompassing four restaurants.

The plans show the creation of patios using on-street parking spots and the bricked portion of boulevards in front of Buster Rhino's and the Patty Shack on King Street East, Stuttering John's Smokehouse at 19 Simcoe St. S.; The Table by Carol at 20 Simcoe St. S.; and on the sidewalk along Mary Street South in front of the Malibu Grille at the corner of King Street East, with the bricked boulevard serving as the sidewalk.

The City would remove benches and trash cans and supply planters to enclose the cafes located on parking spots for the safety of the restaurant patrons. City staff also used consultants to look at sight lines and other traffic safety issues and modified plans based on those recommendations.

Mr. Koster said he's talked to people about the Toronto project and there were no safety issues he's aware of.

"There was nobody getting run over and nobody running into the barriers," he said. "I think we could do the same thing in Oshawa."

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Parking spots could become patios in downtown Oshawa