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The Portland Bureau of Transportation has received 11 applications to convert more street parking into patios, and is seeking public comments on the proposals. PBOT also received renewal applications for the eight existing Street Seats installations – outdoor seating or small plazas on parking spaces.

Bureau officials are reviewing all applications and seeking public comments on the proposals through April 30.

The program, in its third year, is modeled after similar initiatives in San Francisco and New York. The effort has received positive feedback for enhancing street vitality and boosting businesses, but critics have complained about installation aesthetics, loss of parking spaces and safety, said Sarah Figliozzi, who coordinates Street Seats for PBOT.

After successfully piloting Street Seats in 2012, PBOT announced plans last fall to allow 10 more installations. New proposed sites include McMenamins‘ Barley Mill and Greater Trumps pubs, Ristorante Roma on Southeast 12th Avenue, Lompoc Tavern on Northwest 23rd Avenue and Bamboo Izakaya on Northeast Alberta Street.

Figliozzi told the Portland Design Commission last week that PBOT was pleased with the applications it received this year from interested businesses and organizations.

“We’ve definitely increased the design quality this year,” she said.

However, the bureau would like to see more proposals for public spaces, Figliozzi said.

“We want this to be more than additional street seating,” she said. “We’re really trying to raise the bar.”

Public comments on the proposed Street Seats can be submitted by email to [email protected].

More program information and a complete list of proposed locations can be found at .