Community Board Moving to Nuke Union Hall
Last night Community Board 6’s landmarks/land-use committee dealt a harsh (albeit symbolic) blow to local watering hole and performance space Union Hall. After a lengthy and often rancorous public hearing about renewing the Park Slope bar and venue’s liquor license, the committee voted 6 to 2 in favor of a motion that denies Union Hall…
Last night Community Board 6’s landmarks/land-use committee dealt a harsh (albeit symbolic) blow to local watering hole and performance space Union Hall. After a lengthy and often rancorous public hearing about renewing the Park Slope bar and venue’s liquor license, the committee voted 6 to 2 in favor of a motion that denies Union Hall a renewal unless the business’s owners sign a contract stipulating that they will take measures to ameliorate noise, such as stopping the sale of alcohol after midnight. Although the motion is ultimately only advisory, the committee member who introduced it—Lou Sones, who himself owns a bar, The Brazen Head on Atlantic Avenue—described it as the community board’s “nuclear weapon” in terms of being a powerful indication to the State Liquor Authority that Union Hall is disturbing the lives of nearby residents. The motion was introduced after a two-hour-long pubic hearing in which many supporters of Union Hall, which is on Union Street between 5th and 6th avenues, spoke about how much they appreciated the business. A good number of residents who live near the establishment, meanwhile, described how noise from the business and its patrons was negatively affecting their quality of life. More people at the hearing, in fact, spoke out in support of Union Hall than against it. Find out what they had to say, and read the anti-UH faction’s claims, on the jump…
The business’s boosters said Union Hall is a great deal more than just a bar or rock venue. One of the people who runs the club’s Secret Science Club, for example, noted that his group has brought three Nobel Laureates to speak at the venue, and comedian Eugene Mirman talked about how his comedy night at the venue has been called one of the best in the city. Union Hall co-owner Jim Carden described how many Brooklyn organizations have held fundraisers at the space and detailed the many ways he and his partners have tried to address noise concerns, from soundproofing to putting up signs like the one at right to trying to hold meetings with block residents who say they’ve been disturbed by the bar’s noise. Some of those residents, who have been complaining about Union Hall for many months now, described not being able to sleep because their street is constantly filled with drunken revelers at all hours of the night and morning. Most dramatically, one Union Street resident said she’d been dealing with auto-immune problems that were directly linked to sleep deprivation. The struggle between Union Hall and its neighbors is one that’s currently being played out all around the city, and community boards have become battlegrounds where the fight between people who want to preserve their residential streets and businesses that want to operate on those streets is played out. A somewhat similar liquor license battle was recently fought over an oyster bar that’s opening on Hoyt Street. The committee’s recommendation on Union Hall will be voted on by all of Community Board 6 next week, and if the full board also backs the motion, the State Liquor Authority will have to weigh the decision when it decides on whether to renew Union Hall’s license at the end of this month.
Neighbors to Union Hall: Shut Up! [Brownstoner]
Shucks! Oyster Bar Dredges Up Controversy on Hoyt [Brownstoner]
Dave, I’m scared to leave here. I might miss a scrumptious “guest” comment pertaining to Philly, the Excelsior and/or frat boys!
But I feel bad. We’re getting off topic while some faded type posters are still making valid points. As such, I’ll get back to the topic at hand.
1:30 said, “I hope when the full board votes on this next week they’ll take all this into account.”
I agree
Maybe it’s time to relentlessly call 311 about the Brazen Head?
Noise complaints, smoking complaints, you name it.
I was a bit ambivalent about the whole Union Hall thing, but there is nothing more fun than making the lives of old fogies hell!
Let’s declare war!
Crotchfruit granitas are the ONLY way to enjoy crotchfruit.
I’ve only done Coke twice in my life…never did anything for me. I like how it feels on my gums though
Biff…read the “Bed Bugs” post in todays Forum
1:25 #2, instead of lime, I often put a wedge of crotch fruit in my Jack and Coke. You’ve tried Jack and Coke before, right?
Did anybody who was present at the CB6 meeting get the names and addresses of these 5 complainers who are trying to ruin it for everybody with this NIMBY crap? We need to get pictures of them up on every corner so they’ll get tarred & feathered if they try to show their faces around PS. Seriously, I guarantee you if these people didn’t get to hide behind the anonymity of 311, they’d shut up reeeeaaaall quick.
cheese
I was at the meeting last night, too. And something that really depressed me was that the committee seemed to ignore all the great things Union Hall has done for the community. It’s not just the desperately needed infusion of culture–music, comedy, science nights–that Union Hall gives this neighborhood. They also host all kinds of benefits and fundraisers. One supporter said his group, Neighbors Helping Neighbors (http://www.nhnhome.org/index.html), had raised $60,000 in one night with Union Hall’s help. I hope when the full board votes on this next week they’ll take all this into account. Mediation is the way to go here.