Residents say ‘do not disturb’ to Holiday Inn rooftop bar proposal on the Lower East Side

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Residents on the Lower East Side are speaking out against a proposal to add a rooftop bar to the Holiday Inn at 150 Delancey St., ahead of the hotel's appearance before Community Board 3's SLA Committee tonight. 

In a letter submitted to CB3, neighbors say the plan — an alteration to the hotel's existing liquor license — would bring unwanted noise and late-night activity to an area that is already heavily burdened by nightlife.

According to the hotel's questionnaire, the rooftop bar and dining area would feature 12 tables with four seats each, 15 bar seats, and six booth seats. The proposed hours are noon to 11 p.m. daily. 

Residents note that a similar rooftop request at this location was rejected a decade ago, and they argue that conditions on Suffolk Street, a primarily residential corridor, have only worsened since. They point to ongoing issues with nearby rooftop venues/horror shows such as The DL, Hotel Chantelle, Mr. Purple and The Delancey. 

The letter outlines several concerns: 

• Noise: A rooftop bar four stories above homes could affect an estimated 1,000 residents between Delancey and Rivington. 

• Nightlife saturation: Neighbors say the area is already oversaturated with bars and clubs, triggering CB3's policy requiring clear public benefit for any expansion — something opponents say this proposal lacks. 

• Safety and congestion: Residents cite crowding, sanitation problems and sidewalk congestion on the narrow block. 

The letter concludes by urging CB3 to once again deny the rooftop request, saying the hotel's indoor basement and ground-floor bars are already sufficient and far more appropriate for the area. 

Resident Pam Ito, whose building abuts the Holiday Inn — now undergoing exterior maintenance — invited EVG over to show what the situation looks like (and sounds like). Residents like Ito were here before the hotel arrived in 2013.

... and the section of the roof slated for the proposed outdoor bar.

For Ito and her neighbors, it's a reminder of how close — and how loud — any rooftop activity would be.

Tonight's meeting is at 6:30. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited seating is available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery.