Metro

Battle of sidewalk bulge

Hell’s Kitchen is on storm-vestibule watch.

Residents have launched a campaign to bring down storm enclosures at restaurants — saying the plastic coverings are clogging sidewalks.

“Every winter, the storm enclosures come out and you have to walk single file down the sidewalk,” said Ernest Modarelli, a Community Board 4 member. “Something has to be done.”

According to city code, the entrance coverings that shield customers from inclement weather must not jut out more than 18 inches.

The pedestrian advocates, armed with Department of Buildings statutes, want to pressure about 40 restaurants along Ninth and 10th avenues into compliance.

In the spring, they prompted the board to send letters with a copy of the law to the scofflaws.

According to city law, storm coverings are permitted from Nov. 15 to April 15. Still, many enclosures stand all year, and project two to three feet beyond the maximum.

Mark Calvino, owner of Island Burgers and Shakes on Ninth Avenue, said enforcing the arcane law would leave customers out in the cold. He said the vestibules cost at least $2,000 and some business owners wouldn’t bother to replace them.

“They’re going to have to take a perfectly good vestibule and just discard it,” Calvino said. “For a small restaurant, the loss is a lot.”