Lorain's downtown entertainment district could expand

LORAIN — Visitors may soon be able to enjoy alcoholic beverages just outside of Lorain's Broadway streetscape. Lorain City Council's Building and Lands Committee discussed expanding the city's downtown entertainment and community entertainment districts, including expanding its outdoor refreshment area footprint. The outdoor refreshment area designation allows restaurants or bars to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption within the designated DORA zone. Currently, the city's DORA boundary is just along the Broadway streetscape, but committee members looked at five different maps proposed to expand that zone to include Speak of the Devil on Fifth Street and the Elks Lodge on Sixth Street, or stretch to the Shipyards in Harborwalk. Rob McFarland, D-Ward 2, said the hope is to drive more foot traffic through downtown and help with investment outside of Broadway. He worked with Main Street Lorain to come up with the proposed boundaries. Council members did not decide on which proposed map would be best to move forward with. The city is allowed to have up to two DORA zones, and can change the boundaries any time. The program is voluntary, and Council is required to set hours, a sanitation plan and requirements that alcohol is served in specific containers. McFarland added that in talking to police Chief Jim McCann, they plan to add a clause allowing the Police Department to suspend specific businesses from participating if they create a strain on the department. Greg Argenti, I-Ward 4, had concerns with expanding the zone to include the marina and Shipyards, as the close proximity to the water, mixed with alcoholic drinks to go could prove dangerous — and the original intent was to help the city's downtown, while those areas are able to stand on their own. McFarland said the sentiment to include Oasis Marina and the Shipyards was because of the investment they made in the city. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.