<< Back
State Licenses and Permits
215 West 28th Street – “AJI PARTNERS, INC.” – Liquor License Transfer (FORMERLY “DEMERARA” /”NEST” CLUBS)
WHEREAS, AJI Partners, Inc., is applying for transfer of the on-premises liquor license for 215 West 28th Street (formerly operated at “Demerara” and “Nest” Clubs); and
WHEREAS, The owner, Fritz Jean, appeared before CB5’s Public Safety/Quality of Life Committee on September 11, 2006 along with the head of his security operation and the manager of the premises; and
WHEREAS, The premises with a total capacity of 479, occupy three floors (basement, ground and 2nd floor) that will operate from 11 a.m. – 4 a.m., as a restaurant, (has a full kitchen) serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner and as a club/lounge, seven days a week; and
WHEREAS, The premises has been licensed and operating as a club (cabaret) for well over 10 years on a block that is zoned (M1-5 Light Manufacturing) for both cabaret and business and is not zoned for residential use, so less restrictive regulations (such as noise levels) are in place; and
WHEREAS, CB5 is on record as recommending approval of previous requests for this type of operation on this block citing in March 2004 that the original liquor license and that of two other clubs as well were approved on the basis of their location in a light-manufacturing zone; and
WHEREAS, CB5 also cited at that time that the continuing “chipping away” and “spot zoning” that is happening to many areas within CB5 is changing the essential character of certain neighborhoods piecemeal by allowing more and more residential conversions and by grandfathering and allowing many “illegal” residents to legally reside on certain blocks, bringing increased problems between businesses and residents; and
WHEREAS, There is concern regarding a new building under construction on the corner of this block at 8th Avenue in spite of the present zoning and a signed affidavit regarding the attached stipulations was agreed to by the applicant; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the transfer of the on-premises liquor license for “AJI Partners, Corp.,” located at 215 West 28th Street with the understanding that the attached agreed to stipulations will be incorporated into the method of operation of the New York State Liquor Authority Application.
The above resolution passed with a vote of 28 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstention.