Community Airs Qualms About Bar Near Barclays
Last night the proprietors of Midtown restaurant Social Eatz came before CB6 to apply for two liquor licenses at 604 Pacific Street, across the street from the forthcoming Barclays Center, and many at the meeting weren’t thrilled by the proposed establishment. What’s planned: A gastropub occupying 3,500 square feet that seats 150 people, with two…
Last night the proprietors of Midtown restaurant Social Eatz came before CB6 to apply for two liquor licenses at 604 Pacific Street, across the street from the forthcoming Barclays Center, and many at the meeting weren’t thrilled by the proposed establishment. What’s planned: A gastropub occupying 3,500 square feet that seats 150 people, with two bars, some live music and no outdoor space. Meanwhile, Italian and Middle Eastern restaurants are slated for a smaller section of the space. Neighbors voiced a great deal of concern about the proposal in a fashion that was reminiscent of the outcry surrounding plans for Prime Six. One speaker said, “You’re going to be opening a restaurant for the arena, and the neighborhood surrounding you doesn’t want this arena.” Other residents of Pacific Street said they didn’t want the street to return to the way it was 30 years ago. One resident stood up and read a selection of newspaper headlines that associated sports bars with violence. In the end, the community board’s consideration of the proposal was pushed back to next month. A community meeting with the restaurant owners will be set up in the interim. (The photo above shows 602 Pacific in the foreground, which the owners say will be used to house some of the business, though the bulk of the space for the bars and restaurants will be in the furniture store pictured to its left.) Atlantic Yards Report has a detailed post on the plans and the crowd’s reaction at last night’s meeting. GMAP
“You decide it’s a good idea to jump off a bridge. Should I just join you now?”
jumping off a bridge does not equal opening up a business in a vacant storefront.
“they have a problem with the fact that bars and sports bars in particular, are the only businesses opening up in the immediate area next to the arena”
What evidence do you have to back this up?
In the last 6 months:
– A Best Buy opened in Atlantic Center.
– A Vet hospital opened at 4th and Pacific.
– Sloan Kettering opened a treatment center on Atlantic right past 4th.
– There is a different thread today that mentions new retail going in on another block across from the Arena.
I’m sure there are many more businesses that have opened up.
As someone else mentioned, this restaurant/bar would be welcomed in most other commercial areas of Brooklyn.
Hey Jessibaby, just because one person changed his tune (and that is only regards to a restaurant, he is still anti-yards) doesn’t mean everyone else should too.
You decide it’s a good idea to jump off a bridge. Should I just join you now?
From the post, the landlord was against AY, but now that it’s happening he’s renting his property to a group of investors that want to engage in a long term successful business. The landlord moved on, so should everyone else.
ENY- not saying there isn’t blame to go around, but just look at this thread. The first words out of anyone’s keyboard is “NIMBYS” and near universal condemnation. Fine that you would sell if someone offered you enough money. But that’s you. I know people who would never sell their homes because, well- it’s home.
JB- well, it does because of the attitude- on both sides.
Very good points, tiptoe.
Oh, and P.S., they can call it whatever they want–gastropub, sustainable farming restaurant. It’s really a BAR.
But then, name calling is always easier, isn’t it? And until you’re put in the same position, I challenge anyone to tell me they wouldn’t be fighting for their home and neighborhood in similar circumstances.
**
If I recall correctly, the anti-AY folks are pretty good at name-calling.
And I love my home. But if someone offered me 2X-3X what I paid for it right now, they’d have a deal.
I’m shaking my head at this wholoce conversation. The ppl who are portesting aren’t simply NIMBYs, they have a problem with the fact that bars and sports bars in particular, are the only businesses opening up in the immediate area next to the arena. I don’t care how progressive you are, you wouldn’t want just bars opening right and left in your neighborhood. And the fact is, the arena opened very close to a residential neighborhood, so of couse these residents would be pissed. Put yourself in their place. The key word is OVERSATURATION.