CB8 Report: Backyard Seating OK'd for Local Bar and 'Adult Lounge' Coming to Atlantic

Welcome to the live blog of Community Board 8's April 11, 2013 full board meeting at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 727 Classon Ave.

Announcements:

7:37 p.m.: Grayce Wiggins, the director of Single Stop USA's New York Programs and Legal Services, introduced us to her organization's programs. The short version is this is a not-for-profit that helps people with financial or legal concerns access the programs and services they need, all in one place (they'll do a lot of the legwork for you or with you). 

7:44 p.m.: Dynishal Gross from Councilman Al Vann's office explained the city's annual tax lien sale. This is when you owe money to the city and the city sells the debts to a private debt collector. The debt collector is more aggressive and adds fines, and may eventually foreclose on a home. "A property that's been in a family for generarations can slip away because of a small debt," she said. 

The lien sale is May 16th. Make sure you're not on the lien list. If you are, there are lots of things you can do to avoid having your lien sold: paying down below $3,000, setting up a 10-year payment plan, applying for an exemption. There's a help center at 201 Joralemon Street that can help you during business hours. There are also several Lien Sale outreach sessions where city workers will provide one-on-one assistance. Councilman Al Vann is holding a session at Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton St. in Bed-Stuy  from 5-8 on May 6, See more info and session dates here.

8:00 p.m.: Dr. Louis Rodriguez, director of the St. John's Place Family Center, is currently accepting applications for its daycare program. They are also planning a community garden. 

8:04 p.m.: Assemblywoman Annette Robinson is sponsoring a job fair on Friday, April 26 from 10-3 at Concord Baptist Church 833 Gardner C. Taylor Blvd. They promise there will be lots of employers there recruiting for current openings. Dress well and bring a resume. 

8:08 p.m.: State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery explained what's going on with the closing of Long Island College Hospital (LICH) and explained that LICH was the reason that "every single" senate Democrat voted against the budget. This is too complicated to explain in a live blog but if anyone has any suggested links, please add them to the comments.

Housing/Historic Preservation Agenda Items:

8:20 p.m.: The Crow Hill Community Association is proposing to landmark the Crow Hill section of Crown Heights, which is roughly bordered by Atlantic, Bedford, Eastern Parkway and Classon (in the southern end) and Franklin (on the northern end). Landmarking will make sure that any construction preserves the "current aesthic" of the Crow Hill area.

The vote was 17 in favor, 1 no, 3 abstentions. There is a question of whether the vote will count. There was a quorum (25 board members) at the beginning of the meeting but not during this vote. They're trying to pull any wayward board members back into the room. Sit tight. (Note, April 12: a quorum was rounded up and the measure passed)

8:27 p.m.: The board voted to support a request for a Blink gym to sign a 10-year lease at 250 Utica Ave. (at Eastern Parkway). This is a 4-story new-construction building. Blink Fitness is a moderately priced affiliate of Equinox. 

Why does this need board approval? According to board member and real estate broker Gregg Todd, all gyms as well as massage parlors, dance studios and other "physical culture establishments" must get a special permit. 

Liquor Licenses and Sidewalk Cafe Items

8:37 p.m.: The board voted to table a request by Kinanm, a new bar coming to 856 Atlantic Avenue (between Clinton and Washington) replacing Bling. The lounge will seat 60 and operate from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday and from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

Kinanm plans to cater to a mature crowd of people 35 and over. They agreed to the committe's request to not permit bottle service and close by 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday (instead of 4 a.m.). The committee also requested letters of support from neighboring businesses and residents living above the lounge. While the ower brought letters of support, they were not from neighboring residents and businesses.

The board voted to support the application with the stipulation that the owner bring the letters of support to the board office within seven days. 

8:56 p.m.: The board voted to support a beer and wine license at the soon-to-open Underhill Grill and Cafe, located on Underhill and Dean. The restaurant will seat between 45 and 60 assuming a sidewalk cafe is approved (separate application). The restaurant will be open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. 

8:58 p.m.: The board voted to support a beer and wine license for Gloria's In and Out located at 764 Nostrand, which has been a staple of the avenue for 20 years (This was corrected on 4/12). The restaurant seats 10 at 5 tables. While restaurant is currently open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

In a break with tradition, the board suggested that the restaurant stay open later until midnight seven days a week. 

9:05 p.m.: The board voted to support Tooker Alley's request to use their rear yard. According to the committee, the owners have taken "good faith measures" to contact the neighbors and get consent. The backyard will close at 11 p.m. seven days a week and the bar promises ti implement sound abatement measures.

9:08 p.m.: The board voted to support renewals of the beer and wine licenses for Tao Palate at 329 Flatbush Avenue and Udom Thai, 661 Washington Ave.

9:19 p.m.: Neighbors of Washington Commons say they are being kept up by noise from the bar's use of outdoor space which is open until 4 a.m. The State Liquor Authority approved an application for Washington Commons to renew use of its outdoor space until 4 a.m. The SLA approved this before CB8 voted on whether to support the motion, against the request of the board to wait. The comittee had requested that the bar to close the outdoor space at 11 p.m. and limit outdoor seating to 60. The bar owners are in mediation with the block association.

Representatives of the block association said the noise is a serious problem.

One of the board owners responded: "We have attempted since we opened to do our best to try to make sure there are no noise problems in the yard. We've spent a lot of money in the yard to do this and we will keep doing this. But if we can fix the problem I intend to keep it open as late as I can."

The board voted to send a letter to the SLA with the above recommendations.

Committee Reports:

9:24 p.m.: Atim Oton, chair of the economic development committee says the committee is planning an economic development summit to figure out how to get anything-but-a-bar type businesses to come to the area. 

She also noted that two BIDs may be coming to the neighborhood. One on Washington Avenue which is still in the early stages and a second around the Barclays Center. 

There will be two public meetings on the Barclays area BID: 

Thursday, April 25 at 6-8 p.m. at 8 Hanson Place 

Thursday, May 2 at 9-11 a.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall

A final plea from Ms. Oton: Please come to monthly economic development meetings which are held at the 2nd Tuesday of the Month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at CNR-Center Light Healthcare Center, 727 Classon Avenue (bet.Park Place and Prospect Place). See all the committee meeting times here.

9:31p.m: The Dean Street Playground bathrooms should be finished within a week or two, said Glinda Andrews co-chair of the parks and recreation committee. 

Also the St. Johns Community Center's cardio and weight rooms (but not the pool) is now open on Sundays. 

9:40 p.m.: P.S. 316 has been approved for a gifted and talented program. They're still accepting applications for Pre-K and kindergarten, the PTA president said. She urged parents to check out the school so it isn't pushed out by a charter school, presumably due to low attendence. 

9:43 p.m.: Gregg Todd announcd that there will be a really fun sounding event at Imani Gardens, Earth Day Celebration 10-3. There will be chickens and a play for children. 

9:48 p.m.: Meeting adjourned.