title
Ordinance Amending the Brooklyn Arts District Collective Social District to Permit Weekly Operations on Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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Department: |
City Manager |
Meeting Date: |
4/21/2026 |
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Contact Name: |
Thom Moton |
Public Hearing: |
No |
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Contact Phone: |
910-341-7800 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
N/A |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Ordinance; Attachment #2: Social District Advisory Committee Meeting Summary; Attachment #3: BADC Ordinance - September 2025; Attachment #4: City Council Meeting Minutes - September 2025; Attachment #5: Social District Advisory Committee Resolution; Attachment #6: Resolution Allowing City Manager to Create Social District Standards; Attachment #7: Social District Standards and Provisions |
PURPOSE:
The City received a request from the Brooklyn Arts District Collective (“BADC”) to extend the social district from the 1st and 3rd Saturday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. to every Saturday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. for the same 10 blocks along N. 4th Street from Walnut to N. Front streets and one block on Red Cross Street from 3rd to 4th Streets in perpetuity, unless or until amended by City Council.
BACKGROUND:
City Council created the Social District Advisory Committee (“SDAC”) on July 15, 2025, to review and evaluate social district applications and changes to social districts, and to provide City Council with recommendations on such applications and proposed changes. The SDAC held a public meeting on April 1, 2026, to review the BADC’s request to expand the social district to every Saturday, continuing to operate from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and following the same “Other Special Conditions of Approval” that City Council approved on September 23, 2025, when Council authorized the social district.
During the SDAC April meeting, members reviewed information about the social district operations and concluded that there are no known negative impacts that would prevent the SDAC from recommending City Council approval of the extension. During the SDAC’s meeting, public comments were received, supporting extending the social district to every week.
As a compromise, the SDAC recommended that the BADC be permitted to expand its social district to every Saturday beginning April 25th through October 24th as a pilot program to evaluate how the social district performs during the peak tourism season. Following the completion of the six-month pilot program, the social district will continue to operate every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., unless there are any significant issues that arise, which remain unresolved by the BADC and the SDAC determines that a recommendation to the City Council is warranted to amend the ordinance, for dates and/or hours of operation. If approved, the BADC would continue to comply with the Other Special Conditions of Approval approved by Council on September 23, 2025, with the exception of every Saturday operations.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no anticipated budget impact related to this item.
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Social District Advisory Committee recommends approval of this ordinance to allow the BADC Social District to operate every Saturday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. for a period of six (6) months from April 25, 2026, through October 24, 2026, and then continuing in perpetuity, unless and until City Council decides otherwise, under the additional conditions set forth in this ordinance and previous ordinances and resolutions.