Marrow outdoor dining plans move ahead

By Grace Lovins

Birmingham eatery Marrow, located at 283 Hamilton Row, will soon have an outdoor dining platform after the final site plans were reviewed and approved by the city’s planning board during the Wednesday, June 11, meeting.

Marrow’s proposal for the outdoor dining platform showed a deck along Hamilton Row with four tables, 16 seats total, that occupied a single on-street parking space. The platform would be the fourth on Hamilton Row alongside platforms for Birmingham Sushi, Commonwealth and Greek Islands, said planning director Nick Dupuis.

Similar to Marrow’s last presentation to the planning board during a pre-application discussion, the proposed deck occupies a parking space and extends into the painted “X” parking barrier between spaces which also extends beyond the establishment’s facade. Per city ordinance, Marrow would need written approval from the owner of the adjacent storefront to extend past their facade.

Multiple board members said they were concerned about the deck cutting into the “X” barrier as cars could have a difficult time getting in and out of the surrounding parking space and, as has happened at other establishments per board member Stuart Jeffares, could potentially hit the deck itself.

The suggestion was made to remove the easternmost table proposed in the plans to shorten the deck, preventing it from extending into the painted “X.” Ultimately, the situation shifted to allowing Marrow to work with Dupuis to occupy space on the sidewalk next to the platform so Marrow doesn’t lose seating and the painted “X” remains unoccupied.

Planning board members voted unanimously 7-0 to recommend approval of Marrow’s outdoor dining plans to the city commission on the condition the deck does not stretch into the “X” parking spot barrier. Dupuis and Marrow said they will work together to update the platform and seating arrangements to meet the board’s requirements.