HUDSON RIVER PARK TRUST
First, Community Board 1 held a joint meeting of its Tribeca and Waterfront committees in order to hear the Friends of Hudson River Park’s proposal for a Neighborhood Improvement District. I wouldn’t call it double the fun, but it was important, and the recap is here.

And then there was a half-hour discussion—not on the agenda—about efforts to get the state legislature to amend the Hudson River Park Act so that the Hudson River Park Trust may have new ways to source revenue. (That’s separate from the Neighborhood Improvement District.) No new ground was covered, except that the legislature did not discuss the matter but may again in the fall.

BOGARDUS PLAZA UPDATE
Tory Weil of the Friends of Bogardus Plaza gave the committee an update on the group’s efforts to receive funding from the NYC Department of Transportation’s plaza program. The Friends already have CB1’s blessing, so it was more of a courtesy call. The main goal is to integrate the sidewalk parts of the plaza and the construction zone at the south (when that particular nightmare is over), but prospective designs by Mathews Nielsen weren’t shown because it’s too early in the process, and anyway, needier neighborhoods might take precedence even though a recent study showed that locals only made up 17% of the park’s visitors on a given day. The news, however, is threefold: 1) The clock is funded, but the Friends realized it made sense to wait to install it till any possible capital improvements were undertaken. 2) They’re considering the north side of the park for the clock; previously, it was destined for the southern tip. 3) In the hallway after the presentation, I asked Weil if this meant that Bogardus Garden would be integrated into the plaza. The answer was yes: The gates, at a minimum, would be opened. The project’s timeline, if funding comes through, is three years.

STREET ACTIVITY PERMIT: JCP’S SUKKOT BLOCK PARTY AND FAMILY FESTIVAL
JCP Downtown wants a street activity permit for its annual Sukkot party on Saturday, Oct. 7, which means Duane between W. Broadway and Church will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Because I was in the hall ferreting out details about Bogardus Plaza, I missed the brief discussion. Approval was unanimous.

STREET ACTIVITY PERMIT: RUE DE BEAUJOLAIS
Jacques Capsouto of Capsouto Frères and George Forgeois of Cercle Rouge are involved with the folks marketing Beaujolais wine, and they want to have a party on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., to celebrate the Beaujolais Nouveau. (Normally, the city won’t allow weekday street fairs, but since only part of the street will be closed, it’s OK. Although I’m not sure how Cercle Rouge’s annual Bastille Day celebration—which is today and takes over the whole street—got through….) The committee liked the idea of free wine, and there will also be food from the two restaurants. Approval was unanimous.

LIQUOR LICENSE FOR CRICKETER’S ARMS (57 MURRAY)
The two gentlemen planning to convert the Uncle Mike’s space into a pub called Cricketer’s* Arms faced a bit of local opposition, in the form of Murray Street resident Loretta Thomas, who was concerned about the requested 4 a.m. closing time (as was everyone) and the open window (her daughter was one of the young women to get leered at by the Uncle Mike’s patrons). The Cricketer’s Arms guys said their patrons would be different, but how could anyone know? The 4 a.m. closing was never going to stand, but it was recently learned that the State Liquor Authority doesn’t like the community boards to be inconsistent within a block (or maybe street), and because other bars on the street have received 1 a.m./2 a.m. (the latter is for Fridays and Saturdays) closings, that’s what Cricketer’s Arms got, with a vote that would’ve been unanimous were it not for one abstention. (Sometimes I think people abstain just because they want attention.) Also: The window has to stay closed, but the owners can come back and ask to have it opened. Two other items of note: The menu will be like the for the semi-affiliated Churchill Tavern in the E. 20s (pictured), and there will be a piano that anyone can play.

* The application says Cricketeer’s Arms, but a fellow reporter was told that’s a typo.

LIQUOR LICENSE FOR CHIPOTLE
I left before this was discussed, because it had been two hours and we already know the opening will be around Labor Day. It’s not like the menu is in question….