DEKALB — DeKalb city leaders are moving ahead with a proposed downtown entertainment district pilot program that would allow patrons of participating businesses to carry one alcoholic drink in a city approved cup within a defined area, with boundaries from North First Street to North Fourth Street and from East Locust Street to the Union Pacific right of way. The program would be voluntary for businesses, which must register with the city and display signage, while patrons must be at least 21 and wear a wristband after being carded.
City Manager Bill Nicklas described the plan as an initial step that could be reviewed later this year, saying, “What’s proposed here is just a rough framework for a pilot program for this year. One of the suggestions was that if you approve something like this, then we would bring it back to the council, say in December, and ask how we did, what you thought of it, and what the impact was, good, bad, or different.”
Officials said the plan is intended to increase pedestrian activity during late afternoon and evening hours while remaining limited in scope.
Alderman Andre Powell also voiced support for the proposal and its potential impact on downtown activity, saying, “I think it’s a good opportunity for downtown, to make it a little bit more vibrant. I think as far as safety, the safety plan is the everyday plan, policing and monitoring like any other situation, but I think it’s a great opportunity.”