Taverna Eros gets ok for outdoor dining area

By DAVID SEDORE, Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — There soon will be slight change to the look of Atlantic Avenue.

Delray City Commission has given Taverna Eros its blessing to use four spaces in its side parking lot as an outdoor dining area. The move will enable the restaurant, which sits at 8 East Atlantic Avenue, directly across from Old School Square, to clear the dining area on the sidewalk in its front.

Substantial landscaping planned for the area should keep the remaining nine parking spaces out of sight..

City Parking Management Specialist Scott Aronson said the lot is only one of two directly on Atlantic Avenue between Swinton and the Intracoastal. City planning documents call for the elimination of inappropriate uses — and parking lots qualify.

Taverna Eros,  will pay the city 62,400 — $15,600 per space — for the privilege.

The SPRABbies

During the commission’s Jan. 15 meeting, the Site Plan Review and Appearance Board recognized six projects in the city for their contributions to the city’s aesthetics. They are:

— New commercial development: Santa Fe Salon, Harold Van Arnem, proprietor, George Brewer, architect, Michael Fay, landscape architect.

—  New residential development: Gramercy Square Phase I, by North Star Homes, Marc Wiener AIA, architects and Urban Associates Inc., landscape architects.

— New downtown residential development: Terraces at Delray, Grenadier Development, Evans Group Architects and Enviroscape Land Planning and Landscape Architects.

— Exterior renovation: La Cigale Restaurant, Roger Cope Architects and Carter & Associates landscape architects.

—New public building: The city’s environmental services department administration building, Currie Soward Aguila Architects, Jerry Turner of Florida Inc. landscape architecture.

— Wall signage: Black Tip Reef, Greg McMenaman, proprietor, Claudio Camilucci of Camilucci Signs.

Appointments to city boards

Budget task force: Steven Janseen, regular member; Robert Moore and James Smith Alternates.

Green task force: Yalmaz Siddiqui.

Code Enforcement Board: Mackenson Bernard.

Education Board: Keren Eckstein.

Parking Management Advisory Board: Bonnie Beer, Cecilia Boone and Mark Denkler.

Police Advisory Board: Sinam Al-Khafaji.

All received 4-0 votes.