Capital New York

Shawn Chittle commented on Fast times on Avenue A: The life and death of Superdive

Sarah - fantastic article! You got it right. We heard at a board meeting last month that landlords can write off what they "think" they can get for a vacant space, thus leaving a space vacant and tax deductible until a bar comes along that can afford to pay those "high rents." Not sure that is true, but if so... it's clear only bars are opening in the vacant spaces. Someone should look at the Fed and State tax code... We have over 200 bars down here on the Lower East Side (East Village/Alphabet City). It's the highest concentration of bars anywhere in the nation. Enough. Shawn Chittle Resident Avenue A (@11th Street)

Posted on November 29th, 2010 8:06pm

Shawn Chittle commented on Is the East Village getting noisier or just grumpier?

Please fix the formatting bug! Ugh, one big block of text is nasty.

Posted on June 29th, 2010 8:28pm

Shawn Chittle commented on Is the East Village getting noisier or just grumpier?

I agree 100% with what LVV said. And Andrew is to be commended for his work rallying the troops. I worked a little with him on the opposition to Sea on A due to the fact it's the building next to me. After I read the owner was buying dinner and drinks for anyone that showed up to Community Board to support them, I was livid. If you have to bribe people, you're already in trouble in my book. And since when has anyone asked for "quiet?" - that is ridiculous. We're talking about saturation. The short block of Avenue A between 10th/11th ALREADY has 1. Bar on A - full bar 2. Orologio - restaurant w/beer+wine 3. Horus - hookah bar 4. Diablo - full bar 5. Hifi - full bar 6. Westville - restaurant w/beer+wine Did I mention bar? We don't need ANOTHER place to drink. We need something else entirely. The amount of people jamming the sidewalks make it very difficult to get in or out of our front door. It's unlivable. There have been confrontations. My right to reasonable access to my apartment door trumps your right to brunch and booze. PERIOD! And what's wrong with the pancakes in your own god damn backyard? We had problems with Westville patrons but Westville has been doing a lot - posting signs, and getting waiting people to move over to 11th Street where there aren't residential doors to obstruct. I wish all owners were as easy to work with. Since I've never been to "Douchenation," I mean "Destination," I don't know if it has 50% local people or not. I don't know anyone who's ever been there. Most of my friends go to 11th Street Bar. "Superdive" was the beginning, I think, of an awakening that we had let the block/Avenue "go" and it was time to stop all new SLA liquor permits or end up like Ludlow and drown. Avenue B and C are on high alert with the arrival of "Billy Hurricanes" My guess is that it won't survive the winter unless they have a lot socked away. Thanks everyone.

Posted on June 29th, 2010 8:27pm