Stood Up By Studio B

June 12, 2008 by
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic 

Last night Community Board 1 conducted their monthly meeting at the “Swing 60’s Community Center”. Among the (numerous) items to be discussed (READ: open to public soap boxing) was Studio B’s application for a cabaret license. Sadly, this did not come to pass. I was told their application had been withdrawn from the hearing.

Maybe this is why? It would appear that Studio B was visited by the Department of Buildings last week. Click on the above image and read for yourself. But I realize many of you are too busy (trust me, I understand) so here is the rundown:

  1. On April 16, 2008 Studio B was served a Stop Work Order for “interior sheet rock part wall erected to create bar at second floor w/out permit.”
  2. Instead of complying with said Stop Work Order they ripped the notice off the door and continued working, hence this glorious citation less than a week later.
  3. Studio B keeps on working, publicizing their rooftop garden and opens it on schedule, with predictable results.
  4. And now this, the piece de resistance, dating from June 4, 2008:

Re: SWO ISSUED FOR WORK WITHOUT PERMIT AT 2ND FL.REPORTS ARESAYING WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETE AND IS BEING ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED AS ACABARET C/O STATES 2ND FL TO BE UNOCCUPIED, PLEASE INVESTIGATE

The “Emergency Response Team” was called in. Here are their findings, copied and pasted from the Department of Buildings web site:

06/05/2008 A1 VIOLATION SERVED 1760 MILLS 06/04/2008
ECB VIOLATION ISSUED FOR APPROVED PA PLANS NOT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
06/05/2008 G4 COMPLAINT REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS 1760 MILLS 06/04/2008
REFER TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS IS REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIR

Passing the buck. On the upshot, maybe the D.C.A. will do what the Department of Buildings has been unable or unwilling to do: enforce the law.

Miss Heather

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Comments

4 Comments on Stood Up By Studio B

  1. Jay on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:02 pm

    2. It’s passing the buck, but probably appropriately. Buildings issued a violation, so they’ll probably end up paying a small fine in an amount smaller than the profit they’ve already made by completing the work illegally. But DCH handles business licensing, so if they’re operating an unlicensed cabaret that’s the agency with authority on that matter.

    And yeah, DOB’s record on enforcement is pretty sad so hopefully Consumer Affairs is more aggressive. Of course it probably wouldn’t hurt to prompt them a little:

    http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/resources/forms.shtml

  2. gradeck on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 8:17 pm

    3. They didn’t withdraw the application; it was just that their lawyer couldn’t make it to the meeting, so they got it postponed to next week.

  3. missheather on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 8:53 pm

    4. Thanks for the clarification, gradeck. I was basically trying to say it was withdrawn from the meeting, but what I wrote was ambiguous. I have retooled my wording so as NOT to be so confusing.

    That said, I am of the understanding a vote on this is going to be held next month. July 11, I think.

  4. mingum on Sun, 15th Jun 2008 11:10 pm

    5. If you see someone not complying with a DOB order, you should call the police and, if they come, they are, theoretically, supposed to enforce the law. My experience with this has not been terribly effective as the cops in my precinct don’t show up and then write in their report that they couldn’t gain access. But with a blatant unregulated bar, it should harder for them to come up with an excuse.

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