We're catching up to Monday night's CB3/SLA meeting. We weren't able to attend.
But. The big ticket item on the agenda was 34 Avenue A, a modified proposal for a restaurant-bar-performance space. The CB3/SLA committee
rejected the plans from Phil Hartman and Todd Patrick back in March.
According
to the Lo-Down, the discussion for 34 Avenue A lasted two hours and 15 minutes. After several attempts with various stipulations, the CB3/SLA committee was unable to reach a majority vote, so the item was booted over for the full Community Board
to discuss on Tuesday night.
The Local East Village reports that 11 people spoke out in favor of the establishment (many of them musicians); while 16 people spoke in opposition.
CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer, speaking she said as a private citizen, was against the proposed new venue. "What we're talking about is kind of community planning. This is 150 more people on the street at 4 a.m.," she was quoted as saying in the Local East Village. "We cannot accommodate that."
Here are a few details about the space: It's called the Piney Woods, featuring a kitchen serving "affordable" Southern cuisine ... and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Jeremy Spector, owner and chef of the Brindle Room on East 10th Street, will serve as the chef here.
The second-floor stage aims to showcase the kinds of bands you'd have seen at the original Knitting Factory on Houston as well as Tonic. During the day, the stage would be made available to local community groups to use for fundraisers, student productions, etc.
People we spoke with who attended the meeting — both for
and against the proposed space — described the proceedings as "pissy" and "contentious." Oh, and "ludicrous." We're reluctant to recount what happened via the attendees, because the course of events varies a bit from person to person.
As the Local East Village reported: "Tensions ran high among the crowd gathered ...
At one point, chatter from audience members prompted Alexandra Militano, committee chair, to scold the spectators for 'heckling' when opposing viewpoints were presented."
Here are a few other highlights, gleaned from the post that
Devin Briski wrote for Eater:
• The committee said no to the sushi place hoping to open at the former
Mondo Kim's/Cafe Hanover at 6 St. Mark's Place.
• No go either for the aspiring East Village Brewery & Beer Shop at 14 Avenue B. (They were the ones who
borrowed the Prime Meats menu for display...)
• Frankies got the OK to expand its storefront at 17 Clinton St.
• Bistro Nomad at 78 Second Ave. was OK'd to expand its sidewalk presence and extend its hours.
• JujoMukti Tea Lounge at 211 E Fourth St. did get the OK for a beer and wine license in a resolution area ... per Eater, "a decision that was made in an attempt to save the healthy living center after enthusiastic patrons spoke out about the venue's uniquely diverse presence and focus on a nurturing lifestyle."
•
Cooper Craft and Kitchen ( a craft-beer-focused bar-restaurant) got OK'd for a full liquor license for the former Kurve/Rhong-Tiam space on Second Avenue at Fifth Street.
BoweryBoogie has a little more on other LES agenda items
here.
As for Tuesday, the
fun meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
PS 20 - 166 Essex Street, (Between East Houston and Stanton Street)
Previously on EV Grieve:
Phil Hartman bringing a 'performance venue' back to former Mo Pitkin's space
[Updated] Bringing 'the tradition of the old Knitting Factory and Tonic' to 34 Avenue A
Because you want to know more about the plans for 34 Avenue A
