Mieszko Kalita Jeff Mann

Neighbors Turn to CB1 to Fight Against Bar Noise

Last month, Community Board 1 passed a new set of rules and regulations in hopes of reducing the high level of noise complaints they receive from residents. The subjects of the new policies: bars with outdoor spaces, who many say are disrupting their sleep and lifestyles.

Under existing rules, bars with outdoor spaces must close their backyards at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and by 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. CB1 now says that bars who want to add or expand outdoor space must include a full food menu and sit-down tables with waiters before using their backyards or rooftops. Although the State Liquor Authority has the final say on liquor licenses, CB1 advises them on local applications.

“The neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg were not designed, until recently, as entertainment venues,” said CB1 Public Safety Committee Chair Mieszko Kalita. “They were designed as blue collar, hard working neighborhoods. Therefore, most of the bedrooms are in the back of the building. A lot of bars went into the backyards. People are accustomed to the noise on the street, but they expect quietness in their bedrooms as they are sleeping at night.”

Another concern, said Kalita, is in regards to how packed these backyards get. The cigarette smoke from bar-goers disturbs people in their homes, although only 25 percent of the outside space should be allotted to smokers. In addition, in an emergency such as a fire, it would be difficult for people to escape. “There is no enforcement and those two rules are broken at will,” he said.

Brooklyn Allied Bars and Restaurants (BABAR), a coalition of neighborhood establishments are focusing their attention on the new rules. Samantha Di Stefano, co-chair of the Allies and owner of Nita Nita said, “I think the problem is that it’s a situation where there are a few bad apples and they are blanketing this on the full industry. Ninety percent of us are good neighbors.”

Kalita and Di Stefano hope BABAR and CB1 can find a solution that fits everyone’s needs. The Public Safety chair suggests that the Allies police the bars and enforce the rules themselves. “We’re hoping that BABAR can open up a dialogue with the Community Board and our neighbors so those of us who are adhering to the rules and are just making a living can continue to do so,” she said. “We want to actually have some input on these decisions.”

Derrek Vernon is the owner of Graham Avenue bar Ba’sik. He opened the bar two months ago, and said that so far, there have been no noise complaints. He strictly enforces curfews and made sure his neighbors can all reach him at any time, if they are bothered by noise.

Assemblyman Joe Lentol thinks that the rules will be beneficial for both neighbors and bars. “I believe Community Board One has adopted a smart, balanced approach for outdoor cafes that melds well with urban neighborhoods,” he said. “It encourages responsible alcohol consumption and signals patrons to be more mindful of their conduct and how it affects the quality of life of their neighbors. It may even net more income for our tavern owners because their clientele will now be ordering food as well as having drinks while spending time at their establishment.”

Kalita, who has lived in Greenpoint for 27 years, believes much of the noise problems will be solved as the neighborhood continues to evolve. “One time we had a gentleman who was at the meeting for our committee and speaking for a bar to get its liquor license. Three years later when the bar was up for renewal, he came in to speak against it. I said ‘Weren’t you here two years ago speaking for the bar? The one you live over?’ He said, ‘Yeah, but now I have a baby and she cannot sleep. So people change their point of view. Their point of view depends on their position in life. The neighborhood is getting more mature every day.”

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