Gantry LIC location
April 6, 2015 By Christian Murray
Residents will get the opportunity to express their views about the granting of a liquor license to a bar/restaurant that is expected to open on Vernon Blvd.
Gantry LIC, to be located at 47-02 Vernon Blvd., seeks a liquor license but is subject to a public hearing.
Attendees who support the bar, or those who have issues with the granting of the license, will be able to speak for up to 3 minutes at the hearing. The hearing is being held at the Irish Center, located at 10-40 Jackson Ave., on Wednesday at 7 pm.
Community Board 2 Chairman Pat O’Brien said that these liquor license hearings have become customary for all new bars/restaurants seeking a liquor license in the Hunters Point area.
Last month Brian Porter and Phil Carroll, who plan to open Gantry LIC, went before Community Board 2’s City Service committee that handles licensing.
They said that the establishment would place a heavy emphasis on food and that they had no intention of using the existing backyard space. Furthermore, they said there would be no live music.
William Garrett, who attended the committee meeting, voiced his concern that the venue would be two doors down from his house and he was concerned about noise. He also noted that there were 13 bars/restaurants within 500 ft. of the proposed location.
Porter said the establishment would be a small space with room for 12 seats at the bar and about 20 in the main area. He said that he would be looking into establishing a sidewalk café in the future, although not this year.
Hearing Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: NY Irish Center
Address: 10-40 Jackson Ave. (Downstairs conference room)
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35 Comments
SC, I’m not sure I agree, and I think again I am hearing the ‘anti development’ stereotype being beaten into the ground. First, as many environmentalists will attest, the carcinogens were more safely compacted. The neighborhood had its worst exposures during the so called “clean up” that brought carcinogens into the air and seeped through the neighborhood via water in the soil. Second, all of the development that has taken place was the brainchild of cb2. Those of us who have been here, our battles were the same as they are today. we were asking for better infrastructure, parks, schools, trees, transportation, etc. And ok big deal we wanted less density and height. Sorry. The bar debate is cast as progress versus backward thinking. Some of us love this neighborhood because it is a neighborhood and we fear it becoming the East Village or worse the Upper East Side. We don’t want to go backwards. A gastropub is a great idea. Taking care of drunks at 4 in the morning – as one of the restaurant owners seemed to be promoting at the meeting? That’s not a big priority for me.
Clearly progress is a bad thing for many of our long term residents. Let’s bring back the industries and the pollution, because clearly times were much better when carcinogens filled the area instead of diners.
Depends who the diners are. If they are lots of people like you, bring on the cancer.
I was sadly unable to attend the meeting in order to help this business get their liquor license but I wanted to see how it went from someone else who was there.
Trust me, nothing is more toxic than people like you. It’s no wonder no CB 2 hates you f^ckers.
What flew up your bonnet?
I was reacting to Anonymous April 8 12:17pm (aka f^cker). For once, I would like to read an opinion supporting backyard dining or whatever issue moves certain newcomers without insulting people who have lived in the area before they arrived. Like I said, all you are doing is conforming the worst suspicions many of us have of you and emboldening CB2 to resist you. You also expose your profound ignorance. Do a little research and learn more about the history of this area. It was a thriving place long before you or I arrived here. Big deal, it wasn’t so pretty, just like countless many other places in New York and other cities. I just don’t understand why you would want to shit on people who lived here before you came. It’s one of those bizarre traits of some people in this city today I can’t stand.
Well, too bad. At the end of the day, the new people with money moving in are going to change the neighborhood to suit them. They have more headcount, more money, and therefore more influence. CB2 and the rest of the dinosaurs need to have a look into the future and see if they really think they can annoy the asteroid heading right at them away. (Hint: it isn’t going to happen)
Garrett’s right guys – this neighborhood was the best when the retail footprint was just six bodegas right next to each other selling the exact same things and 12 pizzerias. And the good old days were when instead of new buildings filled with whining yuppies, the whole area was a toxic superfund site used as a parking lot for Long Island commuters to Manhattan. Why did we ever go away from that? Who are these crazy people that want new small businesses to come into the area and prosper? Why doesn’t everyone just eat at Junior’s every single day for the rest of time?
It is easy to condemn someone for complaining about backyard noise when it’s not you having to put up with it. And enough with the threats of feces on Garrett’s door – it does nothing to convince the unconvinced.
Backyard eating is great – but respect for long term residents is greater.
Folks, there are plenty of other residents who are concerned with over saturating the neighborhood with bars, late night noise and backyard use. Being the loudest or having the most signatures does not mean the position is right. Look at the States where majorities have made horrendous decisions.
The broader point is that this should not be a shouting match. And the constant vicious attacks directed at a long time family who have raised wonderful socially responsible kids is so out of proportion to one or two stupid things Garrett has done. The rest has been purely taking the time to learn how to exercise his right. And many of us have supported this.
The conspiracy theories about what politicians are in whose control over freakin bar licenses are I’m sorry to say laughable. Stop being so angry about everything.
meanwhile we are getting off topic- the Gastropub doesn’t even want to use their backyard space – they just want to inhabit the commercial space that currently lies vacant on the corner.
And if we recall, the coffee shop was pushed out due to the landlord wanting more rent than a coffee shop could afford. More likely than not, a highly profitable business needs to inhabit this prime piece of corner real estate in order to pay the landlord’s fees while still taking home some money/profit for their hard work.
Liquor sales turn large profits. Large profits are needed to afford the rent. Stands to reason that this fight, if won by Garrett, will be repeated over and over until someone (the landlord or the opposing party) changes/revises their course.
I realize other businesses (aside from bars) exist that turn large profits, that being said, not all of those highly profitable business (accounting firms for example) require high profile, main thoroughfare commercial spaces. We could aquiese and let a commercial giant into the space, but I think we all (Nimbys and Yimbys, if you will) can agree that Starbucks is not the way to go here.
And please – please – no more real estate offices on Vernon.
you may want to consider getting out more often! There are many lovely backyard spaces across our 5 boroughs! Do just one google search and you will see. Clearly these lists do not delineate between back or front of house outdoor dining, but looking through the photos you will see many yards and gardens for the eating and imbibing pleasure of those not subjected to the local lic NIMBYs who patrol the 4 blocks or so that are adjacent to their homes.
here a couple of just those considered the “best”
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/outdoor-dining-guide-nycs-best-summertime-restaurants#tab_panel_2
https://www.zagat.com/l/new-york-city/best-outdoor-dining-in-nyc
http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=14&m=8
http://www.newyork.com/articles/restaurants/10-best-restaurants-for-outdoor-dining-in-new-york-city-28898/
http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/best-newyork-ny-outdoordining_1ny.html
and for good measure, here is a yelp search of the specific stretch of our neighborhood in question – take a look at the map view – if you take out L’inizio and Alobar (included because their reviews mention a lack of yard use) you will be able to clearly triangulate the home of the Garretts.
bit.ly/1y1oj4G
Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Astoria everywhere! east village, Greenwich Village to name a few off the top of my head.
Chelsea. Hell’s Kitchen. The West Village. Hoboken, ffs.
Again with the backyards? You (whiny backyarders) keep telling the Garrett’s to sell and move. You keep saying all other (thriving) neighborhoods have backyard bar/restaurants with curfews. If that is the case (and I don’t think it is) why don’t YOU not renew your lease and move to one of these neighborhoods if this is so important to you? Thanks CB2 for doing the right thing. My understanding is this issue is being driven by a few obsessed people. Anyone can collect signatures.
I’m curious. What neighborhood in New York is filled with backyard (unenclosed) restaurant or bar seating? It’s really not something we commonly have in this city as far as I know.
LOL!!! A few obsessed people??? I’ve collected signatures from people by promoting the petition on LIC blogs and websites and good old fashioned flyers which I’m about to do again. It’s not “a few” people. And of those who signed, 182 LIC residents wanted to join a group dedicated to promoting backyard dining and getting more involved in hearings such as this one.
It’s not a few people. The majority of LIC would like to enjoy backyard dining, even if they don’t have the time to attend community board meetings and be treated rudely by the chairman. Even the restaurant owners have said the lose on average 40 customers a night when the weather is warmer because they can’t offer outdoor seating. Maybe more.
And just because there are a few people promoting the issue, doesn’t mean the majority of the neighborhood agrees with William Garrett. Because they don’t. And he will lose. Big time.
maybe if we all put flaming dog poop on Garrett’s front porch he’d go away
this Garrett guy has been complaining for almost 15 years
good grief
How can I research donations made by the Garretts to local politicians over the last 10 years?
Does William Garrett think there should be a cone of silence around his property? Which, by the way, is on a commercial street! He is the outlier, not the businesses.
@Marcus Gastropub – a pub that specializes in serving high-quality food.
@Anonymous Visitor – We have, and we will continue to do so – however remember we as mere residents are not on equal footing with the Garretts who fund our corrupt local politicians and therefore receive favor. Note, he also sits on CB2 board.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/452/840/408/allow-long-island-city-restaurants-to-use-outdoor-space/
To support backyard dining in LIC, sign this petition.
This guy Garrett has been in the pocket of Cathy Nolan for decades. That’s why we have no yards.
Hope to see you all at the hearing on Wednesday to support this local business.
Wouldn’t a gastropub be more about drinking than food? Why call it a gastropub then? Why not just call it a restaurant?
I can not understand why there is not more leniency with use of backyard spaces in this neighborhood. Every other thriving neighborhood has backyard use – obviously with curfews. For the folks like Garrett who gripe – it’s 2015. Not 1977. Hunters Point is thriving! I hope that this new restaurant brightens the dining scene here though. I’m so tired of mediocrity and the last thing we need is one more pizza joint popping up on Vernon.
Move out Garrett. Sell, make money and bid farewell.
Oh, stop being a big baby. Same goes for the rest of you waiting to pounce on this guy. He has a right to complain as much as he wants. Show up at the meeting and make better arguments than him. That’s the way it works
He has the right to complain (free speech) but not to give the impression he represents the community, 90% of which don’ t know about these meetings.
I get it. The guy might be a pain in the ass and say things you really don’t agree with, and he might even dominate the discussion. But come on! If you feel so strongly about fulfilling some burning need to eat in a restaurants backyard (I have no strong opinions, frankly), then organize, find out when the meetings take place, and get over there and speak up. This constant whinging on this site makes you all sound like a bunch of lazy twats.
Ummm, excuse me, we have organized. We started a petition in favor of backyard dining and spoke several times during public comment in front of the Community Board who found every excuse in the book to put off a real discussion about it. Our petition has 771 signatures. The NIMBY petition (that’s literally what it’s called, NIMBY) has 56 signatures. If we put it to a vote in front of the entire neighborhood, there’s no doubt we’d win. LIC residents are constantly asking the local restaurants about backyard space and none of the residents would ever dream about denying a liquor license to a new restaurant/pub. There’s no way you can survive in that business without one. Therefore, it should not come down to the few naysayers who’ve CHOSEN to remain living on a lively commercial strip.
love it when people resort to nasty name calling. Really adds weight to your argument.
I, for one, have attended the meetings and tried to make my voice heard. You would be appalled (i would hope) at the disrespect paid to those on the opposition of the CB2 board’s old school majority. They talk over you, they interrupt you, and cut you off at exactly 2min 59 seconds. Meanwhile a Nimby gets up to wax poetic about the days of the butcher shop (honestly, show me a profitable standalone butcher anywhere in NYC these days) and it’s silence and reverence til all their points are made (even if they go over the 3 min limit)
The point you are failing to grasp is that there is curried favor, and an obvious need for term limits.
You’re right. The twat comment was uncalled for. Apologies. But review some of the ridiculous remarks aimed at Garrett and maybe you’ll understand what I was getting at: arrogantly suggesting the guy leave his home, accusing him of corruption, suggesting that dog shit be put on his property. To my ears, it just sounds like you are all a bunch of nasty — using your word — entitled people who just want to whoop it up at someone else’s expense. I wonder how long most of you will even stay here. Anyway, that’s not the kind of tone that’s going to win many converts to your argument on the CB. There are numbers of people like me who eat out but don’t care either way if a restaurant has an outdoor place. You people should be making stronger arguments and laying off this Garrett guy if you want to sway opinions because just knocking him is a turn-off
Actually it’s more of a turn-off that we’re stealing with him after all these years. No one likes him. I have yet to meet a restaurant or bar owner that’s opened up after 2006 that can stand to be in the same room as him. It’s especially a turn-off that he thinks new bar owners should ASK HIS PERMISSION before seeking approval for a liquor license. Who the hell does he think he is?
How’s this for an argument: “In the modern world, some degree of noise, tension and discomfort is the inevitable concomitant of urban life.” – Justice Barbara Jaffe (August 2014 re: ruling in favor of Chumley’s, a bar in Greenwich Village)
This is the direction of NYC neighborhoods. Just like you can’t stop high-rise development, you can’t stop the people they bring who demand to be catered to. This is what they want.
It’s irrelevant how long people stay and I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’ve been here 32 years. Many of the folks who signed the petition have been here 2-50+ years.
*still dealing. not stealing.