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
If people complained because of Webster Hall or because of Bowery Ballroom or if Union Hall were sitting on Prospect Park West, I could perhaps understand it.
The music portion of this place is nothing more than a glorified coffee shop open mic night in terms of the noise.
That’s why this petition seems so foolish I think….Not because I don’t care about the people complaining.
I think everyone agrees that whoever submitted the petition has the right to do so. I think everyone agrees that it’s normal to be pissed when people keep you up at night. I think most of the posters are just saying that:
1. it’s an unfortunate fact of life that houses but up against bars in Brooklyn
2. Most people here don’t live next to a the bar and happen to like Union Hall
3. Most people here are therefore rooting against the homeowners because they care more about having Union Hall than they care about the people complaining.
Billyburg ain’t nothing but Love Canal with condos.
I am one of the fervent supporters of Union Hall and I assure you I have no connection to the place in the manner you are suggesting.
There are some really pathetic people on bronwstoner who think that anytime anyone supports something that they MUST be a broker, developer, owner etc.
It really shows so much about your personality….basically that you are living in such a void that you find nothing worthy of caring about.
I care about Union Hall. I live in the neighborhood and think it’s an incredible gift to have such a venue in Park Slope. I go there, I support it and I bring people from other neighborhoods there to show off my neighborhood sometimes. They are always duly impressed.
That’s the reason for my support. Nothing more. Nothing less.
It’s just SO not true these are the owners posting here. Dream on.
Nothing to discuss anyway. After said petition is submitted, the city will merely send someone from ECB to measure the noise officially, inside the residences, not outdoors, and at that point you’ll have no case because it will prove the noise is not loud enough. Done.
You’re right, 3:13.
Galapagos was so successful in Williamsburg.
That’s why they left.
Comparing a beautiful residential neighborhood with world class architecture and a bucolic setting to a former burned out wharehouse district is not really fair. Of course you’d take Union Hall. You’d take anything. Williamsburg is the whore of New York City culture and everything else for that matter.
guest at October 12, 2007 2:29 PM, et al:
Oh my God, I don’t exist! I don’t have a Facebook listing! Er, ever hear of the White Pages?
Anyway, I’m with the first paragraph of the second 1:02 poster; these pro-Union Hall posts are so orchestrated and fervent they have to be connected to the owner. I almost feel sorry that I spend too many late nights at noisy bars to legitimately support the petitioners viewpoint.
park slope is full of these phony “liberals.” people who scream their liberal politics but are totally personally conservative and can’t compromise or be flexible. it’s the san francisco of NYC.
invite union hall and it’s patrons to williamsburg . even us married folks would welcome you.
there is a home for creativity, energy and style. and it is not in park slope.
I don’t believe the petitioners are anyone more than an 80 year old living next door.
There is ZERO possibility that anyone other than an abutting building would hear noise from this venue.
As for people on the street talking loudly. They are there with or without Union Hall.
Union Street is a loud thoroughfare. You should have researched this before you moved to the neighborhood. Any idiot knows Union is loud.