Bar Fight Brewing in Prospect, Crown Heights?

At last night’s Community Board 8 meeting there was a discussion about rising commercial rents in Prospect and Crown Heights, with many attendees saying the communities are seeing more and more boozy businesses as a result. “We need to start thinking about what other businesses this community needs that aren’t asking for liquor licenses,” said Atim Oton, chair of the board’s economic development committee and a local businesswoman. She quoted figures on local rents, which have risen thousands of dollars over the past few years: It’s $3,000-$4,500/month to rent on Washington Avenue, $4,000-$7,000/month on Vanderbilt and $6,000-10,000/month on Flatbush. “With rents that high,” she said, “it’s hard to stay in business without serving liquor.” Her opinion was met with some push back from a meeting attendee, who said that “progress is being made and you can’t stop the direction which business is going.” He added that “if the places serving liquor weren’t there, what would be?” Board members had quite a few suggestions, including a flower shop, butcher and bookstore. Oton said: “We’re not Williamsburg, and I’m glad we’re not Williamsburg.” Members seemed to agree. One member of the community board, Robert Witherwax, said the following: “If a landlord can get top dollar for his property and a business owner can make money opening a bar near the arena, it works for them, but we all lose out.” The economic development committee will be discussing the matter at its next meeting, next Tuesday, 6:30pm at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation.