Politics & Government

CB8 Report: Gourmet Grilled Cheese and a 'Culinary Incubator'

Find out about new restaurants, liquor license approvals and more with our live report from Thursday night's Community Board 8 meeting.

Welcome to our live blog of the June meeting of Community Board 8, the local governing body for Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and Weeksville.

Want to know if a bar will put in backyard seating? What new restaurants are coming to Washington, and whether your neighbor got approved for a rear addition? 

Be the first to know with our live blog. Check back throughout the evening for the latest news.


Announcements

7:18 p.m.:  Outgoing Councilman Al Vann spoke to the crowd, urging people to stay involved in their community. Streets with active block associations, where neighbors talk to each other have very little crime, he said, adding that areas that have a high voter turnout also tend to get more city funds and services, he added. 

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Chairwoman Nizjoni Granville thanked him for all his work over the years, especially his efforts to get infrastructure repairs for the Franklin Avenue Shuttle.

"If it weren't for him, the shuttle would be lying all over the street," she said.

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

7:25 p.m. A representative of NYC's Office of Emergency Management advised the crowd that the city has created a new Hurricane Evacuation Zone map. The city used to have three evacuation zones, A, B, C,  with A closest to the water (you no doubt remember this system from Sandy and Irene). Now there are zones 1-6, with 1 closest to the water. Within a few days the new map will be released, and then you will be able to check your zone online or by calling 311. The city has a new NYC Evacuation Zone guide and will soon come out with a hurricane guide. 

He also urged everyone to sign up for NotifyNYC, which provides alerts on everything from dangerous weather conditions to lost children to school evacuations (see full list of NotifyNYC's alert categories).  

7:50 p.m.: 

The new community board was sworn in. Most people retained their positions, but three new people have joined the board: Adam Bunkeddeko, Dian Duke and Robert Puca. 

Bunkeddeko lives in Crown Heights and works for Empire State Development, the state agency that oversees the controversial Atlantic Yards development plan, including the Barclays Center. He told the board he was looking forward to bringing a new perspective to the board. 

Puca returns to the board after a hiatus. There's a story behind this, but I don't know what it is.

James Ellis has become a board officer, taking over the position of Sergeant-at-Arms. 

Action Items (Stuff They Vote On)


8:15 p.m.:  The board voted against a plan to turn a car repair shop at 1825 Union Street, between Portal and Ralph into a church for the congregation People of Destiny International, aka PDI. They need a variance because the building will be enlarged, covering 90 percent of the lot instead of the current 70 percent. They also need a variance to get around a requirement for 18-24 parking spaces, and for a rear yard. 

The congregation has about 350 members and currently meets on Church Avenue between E. 45th and 46th street. 

The board voted against the proposal, primarily because of the request to waive parking. They were concerned that church members would double park, as often happens elsewhere (ahem, Dean Street bet. 6th and Carlton).

Historic Preservation Waivers

8:25 p.m.:

The board voted to support a Certificate of Appropriateness for reconstruction work on 578 Carlton Ave., between Bergen and St. Marks. This building is, according to the board's write-up, "an altered Italianate-style row house built c. prior to 1855 that is currently designated as an unsafe building." (This not the building that is entirely knocked down except for the front wall. It's the one next door.)

The owner is applying to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to take down the partially collapsed rear wall of the building to make it safe, building a single family home extending 52 feet from the front wall. The owner promised to keep the building's height the same and maintain the same window spacing, cornice and facade. 

8:40 p.m. The board voted to support a plan to by 345 Park Place at the corner of Underhill, to renovate the garage to include three rooftop decks with railings and planters that would connect to the house via a bridge to the garage roof. The board also approved legalizing existing security cameras and a mailbox and the addition of more security cameras on the outside and 10 solar panels on the roof, shielded from view by planters. 

The house is a Renaissance Revival-style rowhouse built around 1896, with an adjacent garage, built c. 1927. 

Wine, Beer and Liquor Licenses

8:45 p.m.: The board supported a liquor license for 3rd Ward Culinary, at 1000 Dean Street, between Classon and Franklin, which will be a "culinary incubator containing a bar, demonstration kitchen, classrooms and a banquet hall. The space will hold up to 800 people. The owners have agreed to close the bar everyday at 3 a.m. and the event space at 2 a.m., provide garbage cans and ashtrays for patrons on the sidewalk, keep the sidewalk in front clean, make sure anyone waiting to get in waits in an orderly line and hold a job fair that is announced to CB8. 

8:50 p.m.: The board voted to support a beer and wine license for Cafe Allegra, located at 547 St. Marks Avenue, between Franklin and Bedford. The cafe will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7  a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The cafe has outdoor seating, but the owners agreed not to open the patio until 10 a.m.


8:58 p.m.: The board voted to support a wine and beer license for Mrs. Dorsey's Kitchen, a breakfast and specialty grilled cheese restaurant that will be located at 794 Washington Ave., bet. Sterling and St. Johns places. 

The restaurant will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The owners will keep the sidewalk out front clean and close promptly.

There was some discussion about why a grilled cheese restaurant needed to serve wine and beer and stay open so late. The owners replied that they would be there to supply food to bar patrons late at night, since most bars stop serving food at midnight. The said the restaurant is named after one of the owners grandmothers, and that in deference to her, they are not planning to emphasize alcohol.

9:00 p.m.: The board voted not to support a wine and beer license for Global Square, located at 893 Dean St. between Grand and Classon avenues. The owners failed to make a presentation to the SLA committee, despite being invited four times (yes, the board did reach them). The owners also stood up the full board tonight. 

9:05 p.m.: The board voted to support renewals of the following licenses:

- Super Market, 81 Kingston Ave. between Pacific and Dean, for a beer and wine license

- Bearded Lady, 686A Washington Ave. at St. Marks, for a full liquor license

- Rosco's Pizzeria, 658 Franklin Ave. at Prospect Place, for a beer and wine license.

- Gueros Restaurant, 605 Prospect Place, between Franklin and Classon, for a full liquor license

- Abby's Level Inc., 1413 Bedford Ave. bet. St. Marks and Prospect, for a beer and wine license.

9:10 p.m.: The board voted to approve renewal of a base license for Rescue Car service located at 264A Troy Avenue. 

9:15 p.m.: The board voted to allow the SLA and Sidewalk Cafe Review Committee to vote on requests during the summer on behalf on the full board, which does not meet in July and August. Because Community Boards only have 30 days to vote on a request, currently the board has no say over any requests that come through during the summer. This change will allow board representatives to review all requests. 

9:41 p.m.: The meeting adjourns.


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