City officials took a step toward allowing of-age community members the ability to buy alcoholic drinks downtown and carry them around a designated area.
Columbus City Council members have approved the first reading of an amended ordinance 7-0 to establish a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in the city’s downtown, to be known as the Downtown Columbus Social District.
The boundaries of the proposed DORA are identified above, although members also passed a motion to extend the boundaries so that it includes Zwanzig’s Craft Brewery on 12th Street.
Ordinances must be passed on two readings to be approved. Council members Jerone Wood, D-District 3, and Jay Foyst, R-District 6, were absent.
The move is meant as a way to support the revitalization and economic redevelopment of the historic downtown and its commercial core, according to the ordinance.
Several local business owners came to the meeting to express support for the DORA, saying that it would promote more foot traffic downtown, in-turn support local businesses there and overall improve and give a boost to the atmosphere of the area.
Starting in July of 2023, state law has given municipalities the ability to create DORAs, where those 21 and older can buy alcoholic beverages from approved vendors and retail establishments and carry them outside to be consumed within the DORA boundaries.
So far, 17 Indiana communities have taken advantage and created DORA’s of their own, per the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission website.
Establishments who want to become a designated permittee and be granted a refreshment area designation would have to submit an application to the city for approval and receive a recommendation by the board of works, per the ordinance.
The boundaries of the DORA will be designated with signs and spots that take part in the Downtown Columbus Social District will have “a window cling” displayed near their entrance.
The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety has the authority for designating the boundaries of the DORA.
The Downtown Columbus Social District would be operational seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., according to the ordinance.
“We see many benefits,” Kelly Schwarze, the owner of 4th Street Bar and Grill told council members. “It’s one thing over the last 25 years of owning 4th Street that could have been a major benefit for many, many reasons, too many to even count.”
Kurt Zwanzig, who would have two establishments within the DORA, said he believed it to be “a very good idea for the community,” given that it “is done responsibly, and everyone participates in it with the proper intent.”
Ike DeClue, executive director, Office of Downtown Development, said the hope of the DORA is that it would establish more of an “all encompassing experience” downtown. From a tourism standpoint, Misty Weisensteiner of the Columbus Area Visitors Center said she’s heard from colleagues in other cities with DORA’s who told her it helps encourages visitors to mill about and spend money in local businesses.
Some general rules of the DORA, outlined in the ordinance are:
- A person can consume an alcoholic beverage from a designated permittee or vendor anywhere within the refreshment area boundaries, subject to the right of any retailer permittee or business within the refreshment area to refuse to allow people to enter their premises with an alcoholic beverage.
- All designated permittees and vendors may allow a person to exit the designated permittee’s or vendor’s licensed premises with not more than two open containers of an alcoholic beverage at a time.
- A person may not consume an alcoholic beverage within the refreshment area that was purchased outside the refreshment area.
- Alcoholic beverages must be contained in a designated Downtown Columbus Social District Cup or an approved container affixed with a Downtown Columbus Social District decal.
- Glass containers may only be allowed in a designated permittee’s outdoor dining area and may not be removed into the Downtown Columbus Social District.
The DORA excludes the Bartholomew County Courthouse, which city officials said was because of a request by the Bartholomew County Commissioners. There was also a healthy amount of discussion about whether the DORA should include city hall. Executive Director of Administration Eric Frey said the council’s ordinance review committee considered it, but ultimately decided against it. Some members thought it may be worthwhile to extend the DORA to include city hall, so that community members could enjoy the benefits of the DORA during events like the farmer’s market or Ethnic Expo, but it didn’t receive the requisite support.
The following retailer permittees have submitted a complete application to the city to participate as a designated permittee:
- Zwanzig’s Pizza, 1038 Lafayette Ave
- Thai Connection, 527 Washington St.
- Henry Social Club, 423 Washington St.
- Swine & Dine, 412 Washington St.
- 4th Street Bar & Grill, 433 Fourth St.
- Black Sheep Pizza, 318 Washington St.
- The Columbus Bar, 322 Fourth St.
- Taku Japanese Steakhouse, 305 Fourth St.
- The Garage Pub, 308 Fourth St.
- Upland Pumphouse, 148 Lindsey St.
Those that hold a temporary beer or wine permit, a supplemental catering permit, or a craft manufacturer’s permit that want to be designated as a vendor and granted a temporary vendor designation to participate in a special event or festival held within the refreshment area can submit a special event permit application and state DORA designation form on each occasion. Those would then be weighed for approval by the board of works as well. Approved vendors can be at any of the locations on the ‘Temporary Vendor Map’ which accompanies this story.
If and when the second reading of the ordinance is passed, it would then need to be approved by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Council President Frank Miller, R-District 4, said the second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for the council meeting on Sept. 3.
