OpenNorfolk — A Toolkit to Help Restaurants and Small Retail Businesses During COVID-19

Work Program Architects is leading an effort to OpenNorfolk, as cities and towns around the world try to imagine living with COVID-19.

WPA is teaming with the City of Norfolk and the Downtown Norfolk Council, as well as national tactical urbanism leaders at Team Better Block and Yard + Co. to develop a tool kit to help restaurants and small retail businesses open up safely with increased outdoor space.

As described in the Virginian Pilot article, restaurant seating spills outdoors, with tables spaced at appropriate distances, and take-out/pickup zones clearly marked on commercial corridors. Online booking and reservations are best practices, and diners are encouraged to bring their own silverware, so as not to create increased waste with disposable products. Retail businesses are encouraged to wear masks, limit the number of people inside their establishments, and “do your part and stay 6-feet apart!” 13 News Now interviewed Mel Price, Principal at Work Program Architects along with Andrew Howard, Principal at Team Better Block about the changes that OpenNorfolk brings to the City of Norfolk.

Read more on the OpenNorfolk project page.