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Letter Opposing a Sidewalks Cafe for Jack's on University Place
June 7, 2006
Hon.Philip Mouquinho, Chair
Sidewalks, Public Facilities & Public Access Committee
Community Board 2
3 Washington Square Village
New York, N.Y. 10012-1899
Re: Application by Jack’s for a sidewalk café
Dear Mr. Mouquinho,
The Greenwich Village Block Associations is a community wide coalition of neighborhood organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life for residents of our historic neighborhood. For 20 years from 1976 to 1996 no new applications were made for sidewalk cafes on University Place. That year three applications had been submitted. The applicants withdrew two of these when they recognized the community’s opposition as expressed by the block associations from 8th to 12 th/13 th Streets. Community Board 2 approved the third one by Dean & Deluca, but it was subsequently overturned by being “called up” by Councilmember Antonio Pagan, who represented the area at the time.
The New York City Council understood that permitting one new café would instigate subsequent café applications by approximately 30 eligible nearby bars and restaurants. They also understood that University Place was a conduit between two parks and hosted art exhibitions twice annually along with other numerous street events.
University Place is now — with the conversion of over 90% of the commercial buildings in this area to residences — a quiet enclave without the kind of pressure evidenced in areas in which sidewalk cafes are ubiquitous.
Now Jack’s faces us with a new application for an unenclosed sidewalk café. While we support Jack’s restaurant and welcome it as a neighbor, we dread the inevitable proliferation that will ensue from the example set if your committee should approve this application. Therefore, we request that CB2 deny approval of this sidewalks café permit. Thank you.
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