TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– Designated outdoor drinking areas could soon be a reality in Terre Haute.
In 2023, Indiana legislators passed an ordinance that allows communities to establish DORAs, or “Designated Outdoor Drinking Areas.” So far, six communities have passed this ordinance– and Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun wants to be the next.
“It’s good for downtown festivals, consistent programming and talent retention and quality of life is one of our focuses in the administration that can open up doors for that conversation,” he said.
If passed, it doesn’t mean you can go anywhere. Sakbun said boundaries will be set– and clearly communicated– and he called on local restaurant and bar owners to help with that process.
“The most important part is that stakeholder engagement,” he said. “Working with local businesses and working with public safety, it is really on the business owners. We need their input. If we should pursue this, where the boundaries should be and why, just having those conversations with them.”
In the brewery district, community members are on board.
John Null, the co-owner of Afterburner Brewing Company, said he’s been following this legislation since it was introduced, and he thinks it’s beneficial to the area.”
“I think it’s good for the city as a whole,” he said. “Specifically I think downtown… the downtown area brings in a lot of festivals with the convention center, it just makes it a lot easier and cuts out a lot of the red tape the city would have to go through to set up a festival.”
Donovan Bedwell, an assistant brewer for Terre Haute Brewing Company, believes it’s an asset to any city around the Hoosier state.
“The sunlight’s always nice,” Bedwell said. “It’s a must-have in the city and if you don’t have it, you’re shooting yourself short a little bit.”
Sakbun mentioned local college students– and the brewing district– as locations where this would make sense, but said there’s still a long way to go.
“Not all of our bars and restaurants are consolidated, so we have to creatively look at the map, and say, how can this benefit the most bar owners, brewery owners, and really empower them to help us make that map,” he said.
The Terre Haute City Council would be the responsible party to make this a reality– but Sakbun said there is no current timeline for when this could be introduced.
However– he hopes it could be sooner rather than later.
“I spoke to a lot of mayors across the state who are pursuing the same legislation with their city councils,” Sakbun said. “So this a move a lot of Hoosier communities will take together, and we definitely want to be on the leading edge.”
