Neighbors to Union Hall: Shut Up!
Since opening a little over a year ago, Union Hall’s formula—booze, bands, and bocce—has been a resounding success, drawing crowds of revelers to the North Slope. Some of the bar’s neighbors wish it were a tad less successful, though. In May a group of Union Street residents sent a letter to a bunch of officials…
Since opening a little over a year ago, Union Hall’s formula—booze, bands, and bocce—has been a resounding success, drawing crowds of revelers to the North Slope. Some of the bar’s neighbors wish it were a tad less successful, though. In May a group of Union Street residents sent a letter to a bunch of officials (including Mayor Bloomberg, BP Markowitz, State Senator Montgomery and Councilmember de Blasio) regarding the tremendous increase in noise and nuisance that’d befallen their street since Union Hall opened. The letter, which was signed by 76 people, claims the quality of life for the immediate neighbors has been drastically altered, leading to sleep loss, stress, anxiety and serious health issues. The signatories said the bar’s soundproofing measures were inadequate and that its patrons have terrorized Union Street by shouting, fighting, throwing bottles, urinating and passing out on the sidewalk. Jon Crow, one of the residents leading the charge against the bar, showed up at Wednesday night’s Community Board 6 meeting to expound on Union Hall’s alleged ne’er-do-well ways and to ask for the board’s help in bringing peace and quiet back to Union Street. From the outside, it may look like a library, but it’s not, said Crow, who intends to lobby the state liquor board so that Union Hall’s booze license isn’t renewed this spring.
The Skinny on Union Hall [Brownstoner] GMAP
john…your comments are always so cynical and disgusting. do you EVER have anything good to say?
i work in the music industry and yes…union hall is HIGHLY respected as a music venue. they present really great up and coming bands and almost always have a great crowd. that’s considered successful in this world.
no they don’t present barry manilow, so i can see how you might be disappointed.
i notice you didn’t list any of the “dozen infinitely better venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn?” but only criticized this one.
I’m amazed at the vitriol in this comment log, but, as I’m unfamiliar with the usualy players on this site, I’ll assume this may be the norm. The boohoos you hear ARE from longtime warriors on this block who’ve fought and survived the drug infested days only to have the state approve a liquor license for a nuisance bar on a residential block and allow a rock venue in a building that shares a wall with a residence. When the crowds leave between midnight and 4 in the morning, the block turns into mardi gras. We wish this on NONE of our neighbors, and will do all we can to rid our block of this business and be sure the state doesn’t do this to happen to any of you either. If the 75 signers of our letter of complaint don’t convince you a problem exists then you’re choosing to ignore reality. Every fight is about a livable community, be it against drugs, for affordable housing, against nuisance bars, for community gardens or against evil developers. This is the history of Park Slope and I’m proud to stand in support of its warriors. — jon crow
Yes: smoking section keeps people off the sidewalk. Bands play only in the basement. I have NEVER heard music while walking past. I really would like to know who is being affected by this and how specifically?
Also, can we start a petition to support high quality music venues that raise property values in Park Slope?
“Union Hall….. one of the pre-eminent music venues in the entire city.”
Hahahaha, heeeheeheee, OMG, now I’ve got hiccups. A crappy, crowded underground hole with lousy acoustics gets compared favorably to any one of a dozen infinitely better venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn? Now I’ve seen everything.
Not to mention that they have their own (very nice, I might add) smoking section off to the side of the building so there are almost NEVER more than a person or two standing out front on Union smoking.
I would love to know how many of those 76 complainers are under 76 years old.
Probably 2.
This is absurd.
I live on Union Street, and come on, it is a city. Fire engines blare their horns incredibly loudly all night long going past, yahoos idle blasting annoying songs, but I live with it as it is an urban environment. As Union Hall is a bar, I’m sure there are shouting drunks and fights on occasion. That said, I think it could be so much worse. I feel like there are fewer people hanging out out front than many other bars in Brooklyn. Also, Union Hall is one of those rare buildings where there is nothing above it. Downslope is a bank/gym, not a residence.
Park Slope is famous for being namby-pamby and I just hope a small group of whining oldsters don’t ruin it for everyone. Union Hall is a terrific addition to the neighborhood–first place that’s not a dive or a yuppie bar. Located on fifth, they’d have a lot more impact on residents than in the one story, adjacent to a commercial space they are now.
I think the food co-op is more annoying then that bar. The co-op always has trucks parked on the sidewalk and just walking up/down Union becomes an obstacle course.
10:52, that is 9:57’s point. Meatheads are meatheads, whether or not they have a GED or fraternity affiliation.
Union Street is loud no matter what. The addition of this venue to this street has added far more in home appreciation and cache than it has taken away from the neighborhood. Folks on that street need to realize this.
I go to Union Hall quite a bit as they really have some good bands come in. NEVER have I witnessed the allegations that the neighbors claim. It is a quite under control crowd every time I’ve been there.
Union Hall is one of the things Park Slope should be proud of and embrace. It has become one of the pre-eminent music venues in the entire city.