I left last night’s meeting of the Community Board 1 Licensing Committee after two hours, but a heroic reader who stayed for four hours sent info about the proposal for 205 Hudson, where American Flatbread used to be. The presentation indicates a rustic atmosphere, with 260 seats inside and 48 seats outside.

They are proposing a food hall/bar(s) with hours until 4 a.m. There would be three bars in the space (two on the main level and one in the basement). They would also like to have a DJ in the basement. They are also looking to add extensive outdoor seating. You know how Tribeca Rooftop and 360 sometimes have food trucks on our block after a wedding? I think the idea is to bring that inside by having these food stations and selling alcohol, too. Basically, just monetize the crowds after events, which would exacerbate the problem of drunk crowds on the block until late hours. Several residents were in attendance and were very vocal with their objections especially considering the existing problems we have with traffic congestion, drunk partygoers, trash on the street, etc. The block [Desbrosses] simply cannot handle the existing crowds. At the end of the meeting, the board decided they would recommend hours of 12 a.m. on weeknights and 1 a.m. on weekends. But I understand it’s just a recommendation and another body [the State Liquor Authority] makes the ultimate decision.

I’m not sure how CB1 allowed this to be presented as “alteration for extension of hours” on the agenda, since it’s an entirely different beast, even if the ownership hasn’t changed; I have no doubt more neighbors would be upset if they knew about it (especially regarding the request for 4 a.m. closing). When Tribeca Rooftop’s Billy Reilly suggested making it an event space back in the spring of 2015, they protested vigorously.

UPDATE: A member of CB1 asked me to reiterate something: If you have an issue with a bar or restaurant or event space, the best thing you can do is file a complaint with 311 (you don’t even have to call; you can do it online.) and the State Liquor Authority. Nothing will likely happen as a direct result, but you’ll get a complaint number that you should forward on to CB1 (email man01@cb.nyc.gov). These numbers are the main way CB1 keeps track of issues regarding local businesses, and they’re what the State Liquor Authority will take into consideration when a renewal, alteration, or new license comes up. The SLA has said that the only way it’ll reject a renewal is if there’s a trail of prior complaints.

UPDATE #2: The folks behind Sevahaus, as it’ll be known, asked to meet to talk about their plans. I’m sure much/most/all of this was explained at the CB1 meeting, but it bears including here: The southern half of the space, along Desbrosses, will be a more casual food hall, along the lines of Urbanspace or Canal Street Market (but they’re shooting for more upscale that that). Principal Neelam Brar said that the idea is to serve as an incubator for culinary types, who might not have the wherewithal to open an independent restaurant. The northern half is more of a lounge, where you’ll be able to order some food from the fast-casual vendors to the south. Downstairs will be used both as lounge and for meetings and other events; Brar’s other business is a co-working space, and she wants to create TED Talk–like programming for women, entrepreneurs, and so on. The Seva part of the name Sevahaus comes from the Sanskrit word seva, which means “selfless service.”

I said that while I wasn’t at the CB1 discussion, I imagined that they faced two main roadblocks: Requesting a closing hour of 4 a.m. is like waving a red flag in front of the committee, and the residents along Desbrosses are wary of Billy Reilly, who is part of Sevahaus, because of his two large event spaces atop 205 Hudson. They said they felt strongly that 4 a.m. was important—although I remain unconvinced there’s a market for that around here—and they pointed out that because the exit is on Hudson, 99% of patrons will head north on Hudson or east/west on Canal (not down Desbrosses). Reilly, for his part, expressed frustration that he has not gotten credit for trying to accommodate residents’ requests in recent years. When he held a community meeting a few years back, locals came up with a list of a dozen things they’d like fixed, and he said he’s done eight or nine of them—and maybe he’s ready to do the rest. (He said he has added a line to his contract for events that explicitly requests no one hire food trucks to park on Desbrosses. “I can’t forbid them from doing it,” he said.) They all said that Sevahaus is not operationally aligned with Tribeca Rooftop or 360, that it’s not meant to be a venue for after parties—but if people do visit after an event upstairs, it might be preferable to hanging out on the street.

I suggested they hold another community meeting so people would know what they have in mind; residents probably feel like the proprietors are trying to pull one over on them because of the way it was positioned on the CB1 agenda. And I recommended they strongly consider trying for 4 a.m. after being open for a while, so CB1 will have a better sense of the establishment. Finally, I think everyone who lives in that area needs to accept that there’s never going to be a quaint neighborhood bistro in that location—and people might bear in mind that it could very easily become a sports bar. I could see the State Liquor Authority having no issue with at least a 3 a.m. closing for a bar at Hudson and Canal, should some other proprietor try to go around CB1.

P.S. I removed the photos of the concept slides because I don’t think I have the rights to use them. Do a Google image search on “Brooklyn food hall” and you’ll get the right idea.