Heated discussions in Cluj due to the lack of terraces on the sidewalks, in the neighborhoods. Are downtown businesses favored?

There are heated discussions in Cluj because of the lack of terraces on the sidewalks in the city’s neighborhoods. The question of a Cluj resident created controversy on a social network. While some people from Cluj say that they would like more restaurants with terraces on the public domain, in the neighborhoods, others say that they don’t want to see chairs under the windows of the block where they live.

“What I have noticed, as a resident of the city, is the fact that the locality lacks cafes/restaurants with terraces. In neighborhoods, you can count on your fingers the terraces where you can serve a coffee/beer/pizza, even the existing ones are not on the public domain (i.e. sidewalk) being located in the courtyards of houses, terraces, etc.

In the central area, few new locations also open terraces (or at all) although the new, pedestrianized streets would allow it. For example, in Piața Mărăști, although it is a large area, there are no terraces. There was a confectionery that had tables but it has disappeared. Horea Street, there is no terrace! Even in Piata Muzeului there are terraces that do not have a permit and they accept the fine they receive.

Unlike other European towns where terraces are at every step. Does anyone know if this is part of the administration’s policy to favor only certain economic agents? In the absence of competition, prices jump up, and Cluj is famous for this”, sent a Cluj resident for “Cluj Civic”.

According to the general regulation, the owners of terraces on the sidewalks must leave a pedestrian corridor of at least one and a half meters. As a result, the sidewalk must be at least 3 meters wide. Some patrons complain that the local authorities do not let them rent a space to serve their products on the terrace, even though there is enough space.

“Today I went to an ice cream in Mănăștur. The owner was complaining that no one from the City Hall would let him rent 4-5 square meters to set up two or three tables for serving ice cream on the terrace. The public sidewalk being very wide in that area (I think it’s 4-5 m) being made during the communists’ time, not Boc’s (luckily).

However, for example a 1.5 m wide is not allowed to rent (the man would pay good amounts in the season to the local budget) space for 2-3 tables. And it’s a gelateria that sells ice cream and coffee, not alcoholic beverages. There would be space on the sidewalk for a car to pass. But the local police informed him that it is not possible”, another Cluj resident scored.

Opinions were divided, some residents of Cluj would prefer not to have “terraces under the window”:

“I wouldn’t like to have a terrace under my window”;

“In the neighborhoods, yes, but if there aren’t a lot of restaurants and cafes with terraces in the central area either… In the neighborhoods, I’d say it’s because of urban development – I don’t know who would want to sit at a terrace on a sidewalk between concrete blocks “;

“What will be the charm of coffee when cars are pumping gas hard into your nose? Then, during the summer, all the concrete and asphalt heat up”.