Community Bored

Neighbors Nervous About Meatpacking Noise; Bouley Gets Thumbs-up from CB2

Coming soon: another overpriced outdoor bar?
Coming soon: another overpriced outdoor bar? Photo: Courtesy Garden of Ono

At the CB2 committee meeting last night, Janet Freeman was nowhere to be seen, and neighbors and committee members appeared rational. An unnamed lounge is still trying to move into the Garden of Ono spot off the Hotel Gansevoort. The outdoor space will be enclosed by a retractable roof and include other soundproofing measures. “We’re trying to open a totally different animal than what exists,” said the attorney in response to the neighbors’ concerns. (One resident described her experience of living close to Ono for the past five years as “Oh no.”) The board ruled to recommend a license only on the conditions that the retractable roof remain closed and a cabaret license not be pursued.

David Bouley was conditionally recommended for a full liquor license last night for his new space at 10 Hudson Square. The 11,000-square-foot venue will be a restaurant/retail space much like Upstairs at Bouley Bakery on West Broadway. On the menu will be bistro fare, sushi, and baked goods. “All low-cal stuff,” an attorney joked. The committee approved as long as clear-cut lines were drawn between retail and restaurant parameters, to ensure that liquor would only be served in the designated restaurant premise. The venue should be open in about a month, the rep at last night’s meeting told us, but is still unnamed.

The owners of Alexandra were recommended for a liquor license at their new spot at 447 Hudson Street — although doors might not be open for another five months or so. The mom-and-pop operation quickly agreed to close the backyard dining area by 9 p.m. every night. The menu is going to be centered on a wood-burning oven, but not limited to pizza.

In other CB News:

Downtown Cipriani brought the wrong floor plans, and its request to turn the upstairs service bar into a walk-up bar will be reconsidered next month.

Soho Park’s sidewalk café was recommended for a liquor license, but only if the restaurant keeps its French doors closed.

• A bar that wanted to move in above Five Guys on Bleecker was denied a liquor-license recommendation. The plan was for the bar to serve Five Guys burgers and for Five Guys to serve drink orders from upstairs, but neighbors were concerned about late-night exits onto Barrow Street.

• All recommendations will be heard at CB2’s full meeting next Thursday, October 23.

Neighbors Nervous About Meatpacking Noise; Bouley Gets Thumbs-up from CB2