A drama about whether the groundbreaking Carnegie Hall co-operative provides a lifelinecity outdoor seating lawIt became the central stage of. To the restaurant during the pandemic — has been going on for long enough.
Osborne, an 11-story brown brick building opposite the famous concert hall, wants long-time commercial tenants such as bars, diners, and pizzerias to dispose of . I think. According to the proceedings acquired by Side Dish, the outdoor seat or lease will be terminated.
Co-operative residents , built in 1885 on 205 W.57th St. and run by Osborne Tenants Corp., are fed up with the "three-wheeled circus" they find outside. increase. Solid Door — Where the legendary conductors Leonard Bernstein and pianist Bobby Short once lived.
"There are tables everywhere, food and people are outside until after 1 am. There are reports of crowds and people are probably sleeping outside after being drunk at the bar. According to the lawsuit. It seems that a sub-tenant has set up a hostess podium on the sidewalk, "said Steve Sladox, a lawyer representing the Cooperative Commission.
The company counterattacked and said in court that it was fully compliant with the city's Open Street program. This program is currently a permanent plan to help restaurants expand their footprint by dining outdoors on certain streets and sidewalks.
"Osborn says there are three ring circuses, but I don't know what they mean." says two of the three restaurants, Carnegie Diner and Pizza. One of the leading lawyers, Joseph Goldsmith, said. And shake. "There's a catchphrase people have for open street programs that aren't unique to these restaurants. People aren't outside until 2 or 3 am. No one faints with a gutter sleep and a hangover. I don't know what they're talking about. "
Billion The resulting food struggle on the cool sidewalk along the line of elders is a complex court battle involving third parties (57th and 7th associates) who have managed seven retail space leases since 1962. I was connected.
One of them, PJ Carneys, has been Seventh Avenue and W.57th Street since 1940.
"Our customers are those who serve our neighbors," said Megan Fitzgerald, General Manager and Co-owner of PJ Carneys. "Some people may have different ideas about what the neighborhood should be, but we're part of the neighborhood. We're not upscale in whiskey tasting, but the bra hangs upside down. It's not a college bar, we're a calm family-owned company when it comes to Irish bars. I don't know if end games are here. "
50 seats since 1982 The Fitzgerald family, who owned the bar and added 10 tables along W. 57th St. during the pandemic, described the legal struggle as a battle between old guards and rich snobs in the area. People who infiltrated.
"We have been in relative harmony for decades. It could have existed, but as the neighborhood changed and entered the line of Billionaire, the Osborne building became more and more disadvantageous to us, "she said.
The co-operative board claimed to be choosing Kearney and other blue-collar facilities, but still has a nine-year lease.
When Sladkus sued his case as a defendant last month in a case filed by the 57th and 7th Associates of the State Supreme Court, he called the outdoor seats and neon signs annoying.
"This has nothing to do with class struggle," Sladkus told Side Dish. "It has to do with adhering to the basic terms of the lease. That's why you have a lease. There are no more restrictions on indoor dining. The building wants pre-COVID. The outdoor seats make a circus of three rings outside and it has to stop. "
57th and 7th lawyers, Greenberg Traurig Daniel Ansell declined to comment.
Judge Andrew Boroc was pushed in to hear the emergency case ordered Osborne took no action against the sub-tenants until the former judge considered whether the restaurant was in compliance with their rental agreement. The next court day is set for July 8.
"Little moms and pops are shooting butterflies with cannons and threatened by the co-operative board," a source involved in the case told The. "They are bullying tenants in the midst of a really difficult economy .... Why choose a little guy? The restaurant uses tables and chairs because no one is eating inside the store. They use tables and chairs. Overcoming stupidity and becoming radical. "
With Carnegie Diner Stathis Antonakopoulos, the restaurant owner who runs Pizza and Shakes, said removed 60 outdoor seats along West 57th Street after Osborne started a sidewalk renovation project. The 30 seats he has on Seventh Avenue are the key to survival.
"They don't like how they look," said Antona Copros. "I respect tenants. We have a great relationship. But the people who manage them are not part of the reality and what the restaurant has to do to survive during the COVID. I don't know. Half of all restaurants in New York City have closed. We paid the rent and kept all the employees. I think they are unfair and unfriendly. 100 during the pandemic I lost more than $ 10,000, but the restaurant was still open. "
He said there were homeless people on the sidewalk when the Carnegie Diner was closed during the pandemic. I added.
"If they want me to get rid of the table, there's a tent on the street again. Now we have nice flowers and everything is clean. Who is the table? They don't bother me either. Their discussion is just leverage for negotiations. It feels like a chessboard pawn, "said Antonakopoulos.
Borrok is 57th and according to court records Seventh was like "ham between two loaves of bread" because it works for both Osborne and its commercial tenants.
"The mayor has created an open street to help restaurants make a living. Currently, there are tables and chairs on the sidewalks of the two restaurants." Sources involved in the incident said. .. "But Osborne is not the Taj Mahal. They are not the aesthetic police on 57th Avenue, but they took it on their own to harass the little ones. Is there anything better for them?"
Andrew Lizzy, Executive Director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, added: Please note the fact that New Yorkers and visitors love to eat outdoors.
This is not the only skirmish along the billionaire line.
W. 58th St. Homeless Shelter, 157 W. 57th, next to the entrance to the W. 58th St. Homeless Shelter, which opened quietly at the former Park Savoy Hotel last week, the line of billionaires and the first super tall condominium in the house. The city's first $ 100 million apartment shelter was opened following four years of thecourt strugglefollowing the city's announcement of plans to open a shelter in 2017.
In addition, some co-operative owners of Carnegie House sued the Cooperation Commissionto save thehouse, not the new Super Thor, for the old house in Billionaireslow. I am. This is because the building has to pay $ 280 million to buy the land under the structure. As my colleague Steve Quozzo reported, in addition to the current $ 4.4 million a year, an additional $ 26 million a year rent is added.