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BIRMINGHAM — The concept of social districts has been discussed by city of Birmingham officials, but after consideration of their vision of Birmingham’s potential, they decided they do not want to pursue social districts.
The Birmingham City Commission and Planning Board had a joint workshop June 20 where they discussed social districts, among other subjects. The City Commission also had a workshop meeting dedicated to food trucks and social districts March 14.
In July 2020, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 5781 into law, which gave local governments the ability to designate social districts in their city by allowing businesses to obtain a permit.
A business with a Social District Permit can sell alcohol on their licensed premises to customers who are then allowed to bring their drinks to consume in the commons area of the social district.
Several Oakland County cities have established social districts, including Royal Oak, Ferndale, Farmington, Pontiac and more.
“The nature of our downtown is not the same as Northville, Ferndale or Royal Oak. And we are not trying to be them,” Birmingham Mayor Therese Longe said.
Birmingham officials decided that implementing social districts downtown did not work towards their goals for the city.
“We do not need people to be able to carry alcohol in a cup into a common area to achieve any of our goals,” Longe said.
Longe said the city has decided to steer its efforts towards making Birmingham a family-friendly place where people of all ages can enjoy everything that the downtown has to offer.
“What I think they are going to do is really take a look at what we want to be in terms of a city and what we want to offer to residents and visitors,” Birmingham Planning Director Nick Dupuis said.
Instead of focusing on social districts, Longe said they are more interested in events that involve fun for the whole family.
Occasional street closures which would welcome people of all ages into the city appeared to be more attractive to the city than social districts.
“There seemed to be a general consensus that a street closure could provide some of the same, or, potentially, even more of an active, fun and interesting space in downtown Birmingham than a social district,” Dupuis said.
If occasional street closures are pursued, it would open up the chance for the community to come together to walk around and enjoy the local restaurants and shops.
“We are looking to be more of a balanced community that has outdoor dining and great shopping, and people with kids and without kids can walk around to enjoy the park,” Longe said.
Additionally, social districts were not pursued because there have been no restaurants that have asked the city to create a social district.
The discussion of social districts could arise if someone were to bring it up again and follow the proper procedures; however, Dupuis said he does not anticipate this happening soon.
