TEMPORARY PEDESTRIAN PLAZA ON HUDSON BETWEEN READE AND CHAMBERS
The Department of Transportation—which never met a street it didn’t want to clog up—and the Friends of Bogardus Garden would like to make the best of a bad situation (construction on Chambers that includes six-months-to-a-year of water main work on Hudson right where the elevator is, necessitating the closure of Hudson for that period) by closing that block of Hudson entirely and installing planters, café tables, and chairs. It was questioned whether this would hurt traffic (cabs coming from the east tend to make that turn uptown) or help it (cars trying to turn left onto Hudson often jam up Chambers). According to the DOT, only 125 cars per hour—during peak periods—use that block; one member of the committee thought the DOT was “fudging” the numbers. The owner of Acappella, understandably, is said to be unhappy (he wasn’t there), given that customers will have no way to reach his restaurant by Town Car; other neighbors, however, seem to be onboard. The Friends of Bogardus Garden will accept responsibility for maintenance of the plaza, with assistance from ACE. Much discussion centered on whether the DOT was trying to sneak in a permanent plaza, and eventually it was agreed that as long as the resolution clearly stated that the committee’s support was only for a temporary plaza, the plaza could move forward. The vote was 7-1-1 in favor.

BLOCK PARTY APPLICATION FOR 1ST PRECINCT EXPLORERS BLOCK PARTY
The application was to close Park Place between Broadway and Church on Friday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., but someone pointed out that Park Place is expected to bear traffic diverted from the Chambers Street construction. The applicants tossed out Warren as another possibility, but the room was full of people waiting to discuss Warren 77, so that got shot down. They may have brought up another street at the end of the meeting, but I got had to leave early.

BLOCK PARTY APPLICATION FOR SUKKOT BLOCK PARTY AND FESTIVAL
The Jewish Community Project wants to close Duane between Church and West Broadway on Sunday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., for its celebration of the holiday of Sukkot. This passed unanimously.

APPLICATION FOR ALTERATION OF LIQUOR LICENSE FOR BLAUE GANS
Last month, the restaurant got approval for sidewalk seating, and it needs to change its liquor license as a result. This passed unanimously.

APPLICATION FOR UNENCLOSED SIDEWALK CAFÉ FOR ESTANCIA 460
Owner Stacey Sosa explained that she used to have outdoor seating but she didn’t bother renewing the permit when the construction was going on outside. There will be five tables, all located on the platform. This passed unanimously.

DISCUSSION OF RECENT NOISE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO WARREN 77
Owner Matt Abramcyck had told the chair he’d show up, and when he wasn’t there, the antipathy in the room rose as neighbors told of a lack of soundproofing (even though it had been a condition of liquor-license approval); unruly patrons screaming, yelling, singing, urinating on, and racing down the streets; and how the bar keeps its big front windows open way past midnight, creating a party that overflows onto the sidewalk. The board concluded that three measures would help: 1) a bouncer outside the door; 2) closing the windows much earlier; and 3) some sort of soundproofing solution so the neighbors next door can actually sleep. At that point, Abramcyck (standing in the photo) walked in, shaggy and sheepish. Much of the compaints had to be explained again, along with the proposed solutions; Abramcyck only fought back when super-specific soundproofing solutions—such as tablecloths—were suggested, because he (rightly?) wanted to get a better sense of the problem—he said this was the first he’d heard of it—and to talk to experts about potential ways to make everyone happy without having to cover his brick wall (which he admitted was only soundproofed 40% of the length). He agreed to close the windows at 9 p.m. and have a bouncer as of 8 p.m., and to come back in September for a follow-up meeting. The vote, from what I could tell, was 8-1-0 in favor of recommending that his license not be renewed unless he does these things, although according to Abramcyck, the license isn’t up for renewal until next year.

This was the point at which I had to leave, so I’m afraid I didn’t get the scoop on the Hudson Street construction update; Josephine [hey, Josephine owners! Email me at tribecacitizen@gmail.com!], the new restaurant going into Independence Plaza; the liquor-license application for the new Sheraton on Canal Street; or whatever the issue is with the northeast corner of Broadway and Reade. If anyone has the goods, please say so in the comments or email me. Thanks!