CB2 To Nip Liquor Licenses in the Bud (Light)
Park Slope’s Union Hall isn’t the only bar experiencing backlash from neighbors tired of overhearing peoples’ drunk conversations. Community Board 2 District Manager Robert Perris told us his board plans to stop issuing new liquor licenses in certain areas where residents feel over-saturated with noisy bars. As a compromise, the board would suggest either a…
Park Slope’s Union Hall isn’t the only bar experiencing backlash from neighbors tired of overhearing peoples’ drunk conversations. Community Board 2 District Manager Robert Perris told us his board plans to stop issuing new liquor licenses in certain areas where residents feel over-saturated with noisy bars. As a compromise, the board would suggest either a beer and wine license or an early closing time. The two “over-saturation” examples Perris gave were Atlantic Avenue near Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights (Brazen Head, Floyd, Last Exit, Magnetic Field, Montero’s, Waterfront Ale House) and the intersection of Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene (Frank’s Lounge, Moe’s, Stonehome Wine Bar). Perris said the focus right now would be on suggesting beer and wine licenses as an alternative. “The relationship is clearer that the alcohol is part of the dining experience and not sort of the focus by itself.” And if the applicant is absent at hearings, or otherwise “appears to us that they are intentionally or unintentially unwilling to have a conversation with us,” the community board may recommend that the state not approve the liquor license request as standard protocol. The board is expected to vote on the official protocol change tonight. Editor’s Note: To clarify, the above are measures that have been discussed, but nothing has been decided on. The issue will be discussed at the board meeting tonight.
Community Board Moving to Nuke Union Hall [Brownstoner]
Photo by Bryan Bruchman.
@5:38: Is that a serious question?
Brooklyn has become more desirable primarily because of the rapid evolution of a bar and restaurant scene. If you had lived here or visited here in the 80s you would know that.
To 5PM: As a bar owner I can tell you that if we were forced to stop serving at midnight we would go out of business. Also, there would be no need for a bench out front of Last Exit — nor would there be nearly as much noise in front of most bars — if it wasn’t for the smoking ban. I am not saying the ban was good or bad, just that it resulted in more noise. My bar never had any complaints from our neighbors until our customers had to go outside to smoke.
To 5:38: If you could go back in time to the ’70s and ’80s you would see how awful and unsafe strips like Atlantic Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Smith Street were. What changed them? The opening of bars and restaurants.
Regardless the main point that many seem to be missing is that Union Hall violated no laws, and has no violations against them, but yet are under threat of being shut-down thus setting a scary precedence which would ultimately change the face of the city we all love.
All these comments defending how great bars are and how they improve property values and quality of life are just weird. Who do you think objects to a whole bunch of bars in a row? Why, the people who LIVE near them, of course. You know, the same folks who drive up property values and defend their quality of life through legal channels such as 311 and Community Boards.
Bars are typically found in non-residential areas because it appears that nobody really wants to live near a bunch of bars. How do bars, then, drive up property values and improve quality of life?
One bar makes a nice addition to a streetscape and neighborhood. Two, perhaps also. Many in a row makes a frat party. People who defend property values and quality of life are not interested in frat parties. Hence, the attempt to restrict permits. No one is trying to implement Prohibition.
Do not hassle MONTERO’s! It was there before any of us!
@5:00 – You really think it’s feasible for a bar to stop serving at midnight? That’s not a happy medium, that’s called Connecticut.
But again, you chose to live on a commercial strip. I’m sure your mortgage and the price you paid was exceptionally cheap because of it. 11 years ago you could have gotten a two bedroom on a very quiet block in Cobble Hill for under $300K.
I also am starting to question the truthfulness of your post about the timeline in which you moved there. Last Exit was Pete’s before it moved across the street. If you lived in the neighborhood 11 years you would know that.
2:12/5:00, I sympathize with you and your suggestions are reasonable. Notwithstanding that, the proposal from CB2 is loony. If bars can’t be on a commercial strip like this, then where exactly do they propose them to be? Now if they answer “Exactly – nowhere!” well, too bad for those kill-joys, they need to stop micromanaging others’ lives.
3:17 – i don’t rent. I own.
4:36 – i don’t live above a bar and no bar was next door when I bought. The building next door is LICH medical offices. Pete’s Waterfront is across the street (and has none of the problems Last Exit and Floyd have). Last Exit opened about a year after we moved in if I recall correctly. They have a backyard space which has a residential noise curfew. The same curfew should apply to the bench they park outside their front door. The midnight rule isn’t an arbitrary rule for the bar to implement – it’s one of the things the liqueur licensing board has made a condition for renewing other licenses at other places all over NYC and I think it’s a good idea. I have no interest in closing any place down, but finding a happy medium benefits everyone. A business has an obligation to respect its neighbors just like the rest of civilized society. I don’t doubt they love the neighborhood as much as we do – but we clearly have more respect for it than they do.
“I’ve lived here for 11 years – years before either of those places existed.”
Hmmm, interesting comment considering that Last Exit opened up 11 years ago this year. Perhaps you beat it by a few months, or perhaps it was still Pete’s when you moved in.
While I sympathize with you having to put up with idiots 10 percent of the time, I agree with the earlier comment that you are not obligated to live above a bar. That’s your choice.
I happen to live above the BQE and it’s very loud. I am awakened every night by trucks hitting some sort of depression in the road. But guess what, I pay cheaper rent to live there, just like I’m sure your rent or mortgage is chepaer due to its location on a commercial strip.
And your comment about bars not serving people who are drunk after midnight is just completely unrealistic. It’s an arbitrary rule you would like to see enacted to suit your needs. It’s also not economically feasible for a bar. Also, it’s hardly Floyd’s or Last Exit’s responsibility if people show up drunk already from other bars and are making noise. There is little they can do about this, and does it happen often.
I heard a rumor that MF may open back up next week.