657 Washington (near St Marks) wants to become a bar, perhaps with food

whynot_31

photo:loopnet

It is presently for rent, 740 sq ft for $4500 a month.

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17996061/657-Washington-Avenue-Brooklyn-NY/

An entity known as Los Amates, Inc has expressed an interest in getting a full liquor lic for the site, and will appear before the CB8 SLA committee to get its support for same on Aug 5.

....Washington Avenue, you have arrived.

newguy88

Isn't the CB bucking hard against more bars?

whynot_31

The CB's power against more bars is limited in that they are merely advisory to the entity (the NYS SLA) that actually grants the lics.

That said, yes, members of CB8 are trying to argue that the area is saturated and the residents want earlier closing times.

However, they are opposed by forces who have an interest in seeing the area "develop". Here are two forces that often oppose such efforts by the CB:

-NYC Government (which would like to expand the city's tax reveue and jobs base)

-The Real Estate Board of NY (which would like life to be as profitable as possible for its members). http://www.rebny.com/

newguy88

One's illusion of power is often greater then their real power. I feel the community, as I've said before, is simply having difficulty deal with the inevitable and unstoppable evolution of cities. That being said some bars can do much more to be better neighbors.

whynot_31

Yes.

In this case, you also have a situation in which people thought that people in "other neighborhoods" were able to be involved, consulted, or grant permission before things happened.

The activist/CB types are learning to what extent that is true HERE, and wrestling with whether it is (or ever has been) true elsewhere.

Yes, development and investment is very hard to shape, much less control, in an urban setting.

Having just returned from a trip to Maine, I will add that its' communities seem to provide their citizens a much greater illusion of power. Needless to say, Maine is not doing this on purpose EITHER.

notsayin

Anyone know if the applicant showed up to the SLA hearing last week?

whynot_31

They did not make an appearance. Let's see if they show up in Sept.

whynot_31

This may still happen.

They are scheduled to appear on Monday, September 9, 2013 at 6:30 PM.

CNR-Center Light Health Care Center, which is located at 727 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (between Park and Prospect Place).

notsayin

Meanwhile at the other end of the block, the 6-story new build at 645 Washington (next to the little Jamaican-owned garage) has a CB8 notice up stating that "Dome Ventures d/b/a Moot Hall" wants to open a bar with backyard garden serving beer/wine/liquor.

Apparently a Moot Hall is a thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moot_hall

The death-slow gentrification march north along Washington continues...

Attached files

whynot_31

Yes, that was announced a while ago: http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/645-washington-near-bergen-wants-to-become-a-bar

Soon, very few vacant storefronts will remain on Washington.

landlord

At $73 per sq foot the price seems a bit high. Additionally, at 740sq feet this will be a very small bar.

whynot_31

Yes.

it should be interesting to hear about how they are going to attempt food as well.

goodprospect

Newguy88 said: I feel the community, as I've said before, is simply having difficulty deal with the inevitable and unstoppable evolution of cities. That being said some bars can do much more to be better neighbors

My impression is that CB8 is doing what it can to have bars be better neighbors, i.e. negotiating reduced nighttime hours in exchange for its support. I think it's doing everything it can to make this a neighborhood any of us still want to live in while working with the new reality.

whynot_31

Bump

whynot_31 said:

This may still happen.

They are scheduled to appear on Monday, September 9, 2013 at 6:30 PM.

CNR-Center Light Health Care Center, which is located at 727 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (between Park and Prospect Place).

whynot_31

This entity did not appear at tonight's SLA CB8 mtg.

whynot_31

Our next opportunity to find out if they are still interested in doing this is Monday, October 7th.