Nightlife vs. Community Boards: July 2010

Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

A summary of the struggles between nightlife operators and NIMBY residents across the city.

Rooftop Bars
(Good Night Mr. Lewis)
Steven Lewis offers a detailed explanation of the bill that could curtail and suppress new and existing rooftop bars all over New York City.


Central Park
(New York Times)
Several different operators are submitting plans to revive the historic Tavern on the Green space, but they are going to have to spend up to $30 million to get the place opened again. If they fail, Mayor Bloomberg plans to make the space into a retail shop, which sounds strangely similar to the fate that the Limelight submitted to earlier this year.

East Village
(DNA Info)
A recent community board study shows that one in three storefronts in the East Village serves liquor, but with 2010 New York real estate prices who else can afford to open there besides Chase, Duane Reade and Starbucks?

Flatiron District
(DNA Info)
The owners of Buddha Bar might not be able to turn a 6,000 square foot space on Park Avenue South into an upscale lounge because when he says “I’m building a restaurant” the community board hears “I’m building a huge club.”

Lower East Side
(EV Grieve)
NIMBY’s are banding their resources to fight a liquor license transfer of Soulgasm’s Sin Sin lounge.

Upper West Side
(DNA Info)
Residents in a $5 million dollar a unit condo haven’t been able to stop a wine bar from developing on Central Park West, but the residents are planning to take the case to court to prevent the venue from opening.


Have fun.
G