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Parks & Public Spaces
Application by Park Ave Cake LLC d/b/a L’Express for a renewal of an existing unenclosed sidewalk café at 249 Park Avenue South (at East 20th Street) featuring 7 tables and 22 chairs
WHEREAS, Park Ave Cake LLC d/b/a L’Express (“Applicant”) is applying for a renewal for its existing unenclosed sidewalk café (“New Café”) license at 249 Park Avenue South, New York, NY (at East 20th Street); and
WHEREAS, In April 2016, Community Board Five approved the Applicant’s application for a new café with the following parameters:
1. Monday through Friday: Up to seven tables and up to 14 chairs (seven 2-tops) to be situated on the south side of East 20th Street and the east side of Park Avenue South; and
2. Saturday and Sunday: Up to five tables (four 4-tops and one 2-top) and up to 18 chairs to be situated on the east side of Park Avenue South and up to two tables (two 2-tops) and four chairs to be situated on the south side of East 20th Street; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, DCA approved for a modification from Applicant, supported by Community Board Five, to modify the footprint to allow for up to five tables (four 4-tops and one 2-top) and up to 18 seats to be situated on the east side of Park Avenue South, and up to two tables (two 2-tops) and four seats to be situated on the south side of East 20th Street, seven days a week; and
WHEREAS, The café’s operating hours are currently no earlier than 11:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and no later than 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday; and
WHEREAS, The sidewalk in question has a width of 14 feet and 7 inches, and the existing café footprint is not going to change, exceeding all of the requirements for unobstructed pedestrian traffic according to DCA regulations; and
WHEREAS, The operating hours for the café will not be changing; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant has been a responsible community fixture of the neighborhood for
approximately 20 years; and
WHEREAS, Due diligence by Community Board Five, upon application and review of the original
application, including several pedestrian counts performed at various times and intervals, revealed that
existing foot traffic on both weekdays and weekends does not pose a congestion concern; and
WHEREAS, There have been no reported problems related to the café since the time of the original
approval; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five’s approval of this renewal application is expressly limited to the
current layout, operating hours and numbers of tables and seats as set forth in the current application to
the DCA; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the application for the renewal of an
existing unenclosed sidewalk café at 249 Park Avenue South featuring 7 tables and 22 chairs.