Cities can and should play a role in creating safe public spacesand supporting local businesses, according to new plans fromStudio One Eleven. The Los Angeles-based designfirm recommends that cities adapt outdoor areas and parking intospaces for consumers to engage in commerce from a distance, andtherefore support businesses. These spaces would include thecreation of temporary parklets, curbside parking and flexareas.

"The city has an opportunity to reposition some spaces to allowbusinesses to recover," Alan Pullman, a principalat Studio One Eleven, tells GlobeSt.com. "For example, citiescontrol street side parking, and dedicated 5-to-10 minute customerpick-up zones can be really critical to a businesses survival.Having more designated more curbside pick-up zones is reallyimportant, and the city can facilitate that by restriping andtaking out or re-signing meters."

Initially, curbside parking will be crucial to keepingbusinesses open. Most businesses will be required to go through acurbside-pick-up phase of re-opening. In later phases, parklets andflex zones will play an important role. Parklets would be used foroutdoor dining—areas where tables could be spread out—and places tocongregate. They can also be extensions of clothing boutiques,where merchandise can be spread out so that customers can shopwithout the pressure of a crowded store. Flex zones, on the otherhand, would be a lighter version of a parklet, created by ropingoff existing open spaces, like traffic medians, crosswalks, andside streets, all of which are much less trafficked under socialdistancing restrictions.