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State Licenses and Permits
215 WEST 28TH STREET AT EIGHTH AVENUE, GQ NIGHTLIFE LLC D/B/A "PROMENADE", APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING ON PREMISES LIQUOR LICENSE
WHEREAS, GQ Nightlife LLC d/b/a "Promenade" ("Applicant"), has notified Community Board Five of its intention to renew its existing on premises liquor license for the nightclub located at 215 West 28th Street (the "Premises"); and
WHEREAS, Applicant is currently in possession of a liquor license for the Premises that was approved by Community Board Five (CB5) in July of 2008 subject to extensive assurances, conditions and stipulations regarding the method of operation agreed to by the owner (attached); and
WHEREAS, Applicant has failed to comply with the conditions and stipulations to which it agreed; and
WHEREAS, Principals of Applicant failed to appear at the March 2, 2011 meeting of the Public Safety and Quality of Life Committee as requested but instead sent Ms. Betsy Varela, a daytime manager of the establishment with no experience in handling matters of this seriousness and with no authority whatsoever on behalf of the Applicant; and
WHEREAS, In recent years what had once been primarily a manufacturing area of the city is now home to many new residences, commercial businesses and a school, the Fashion Institute of Technology; and
WHEREAS, Neighboring businesses and residences of the community came out in strong opposition to the venue and presented verbal testimony, written testimony, a signed petition and e-mails indicating the same; and
WHEREAS, Among the more serious instances reported at the venue are:
March 2009 Multiple Stabbing Inside Club
January 2010 Shots Fired Outside Club
March 2010 Fighting Outside Club;
April 2010 Noise, Unlicensed Security, Dancing without Cabaret License
May 2010 Underage Drinking
February 2011 Assault, Felony Assault, Failure to Control Crowd; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the above incidents, residences and businesses indicated that the quality of life issues due to the venue were extensive and included excessive crowds, noise, littering and disregard for others on the block; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five RECOMMENDS DENIAL of the renewal of an on premises liquor license for GQ Nightlife LLC d/b/a "Promenade" located at 215 West 28th Street; and be it further
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends that ENFORCEMENT ACTION be taken by the New York State Liquor Authority against GQ Nightlife LLC d/b/a "Promenade" located at 215 West 28th Street to abate the nuisance created by the operation at the Premises.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.