Future of Silver Heights Restaurant patio to be decided at city hall
The future of the patio at the Silver Heights Restaurant, which residents say has created a lot of noise and traffic headaches over the past nine years, is set to be decided at Winnipeg city hall today.
People living near the restaurant in St. James say they've had to put up with noise, traffic and parking problems since the patio opened in 2005.
"It's not just once in a while," said Brian Luff, who lives across the street. "Since the boys have taken the restaurant over, it's non-stop partyville here."
The City of Winnipeg's Board of Adjustment recently rejected the Silver Heights Restaurant's bid to keep the patio open.
Restaurant owner Anthony Siwicki will contest that ruling before city council's appeal committee on Friday.
Luff said the patio's problems are especially bad on nights when the Winnipeg Jets or Blue Bombers are playing.
Lori Boast, who also lives nearby, said drunk people are outside at all hours, slamming car doors and even fighting on the street.
Boast said regardless of whether or not the restaurant is allowed to keep the patio open, she's planning to move out of the neighbourhood.
"I can't sleep," she said, her voice cracking.
"I was woken up at 3 last night. I didn't get back to sleep until 6 or 7. I didn't get up today until 11:45. I have things to do. I have a life to live."
Residents said their complaints to 311 and Winnipeg police have gone nowhere.
Restaurant owner responds
Siwicki told CBC News the city gave the restaurant permission to operate the patio on a trial basis for one year. That trial period expired in the spring of 2006.
He said he only learned that the patio was not legal this summer, when he was doing work on it and he asked the city for a permit to keep it running.
Siwicki said he feels "rotten" to hear neighbours saying that the noise and traffic associated with the patio have made their lives miserable.
"Our clientele is not that kind of people," he said.
"We're here all the time. There's always a Siwicki present," he added. "It's our family that's always here, so we're always walking around. All our customers are great people."
Siwicki said he's addressed some of the issues by closing the patio at 9 p.m. and removing outdoor speakers and beer ads.
The City of Winnipeg declined to comment on the case while it's before the appeal committee.
Read the city's administrative report on the Silver Heights Restaurant patio proposal below.
