Park Slope Restaurant Met With Resistance
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Over the years, Park Slope has been something of a magnet for new restaurants. But when it comes to an eatery that's planning to open at one of the Brooklyn neighborhood's busiest intersections, many residents say enough may be enough. NY1's Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.Earlier this month, Akiva Ofshtein showed NY1 the bar he built in his new restaurant's backyard. But that bar will soon be gone. It's one of several concessions Ofshtein made under community pressure.
"I'm not sure why I'm being singled out for this," Ofshtein said.
His Prime 6 restaurant is opening at the corner of 6th and Flatbush Avenues, the site of a former video store. It can hold 230 people on the ground floor, the basement and the backyard. But many who live nearby say the restaurant's size and outdoor space will ruin their quality of life.
"When bottles of beer are open and thrown into a garbage can, it makes a loud noise for everyone and reverberates throughout the backyards," said Homeowner Harry Lipman.
Lipman outlined his concerns at a community board committee meeting Monday night. Among them: operating hours. Already caving to demands, Ofshtein agreed to close his yard early, but he wants to stay open inside until four o'clock in the morning.
"The interior of the restaurant, which is soundproofed and doors will be closed, should operate to the legal limit," Ofshtein said.
"We're very concerned about a precedent being set in the neighborhood by a bar/restaurant having a 4 a.m. indoor closing time," Lipman said.
As the debate continues, the North Flatbush Avenue Business Improvement District has stepped in to mediate.
"We've seen a lot of businesses close over the years. So we're welcoming of new businesses as long as they're responsible and good neighbors," said Regina Cahill of the North Flatbush Avenue BID.
The BID, which is marking its 25th anniversary this year, runs from Atlantic Avenue to Grand Army Plaza.
Along the corridor is the Atlantic Yards project which Ofshtein hopes will bring in business when the basketball arena opens. However, some residents worry about the growing congestion.
"We are concerned about saturation. And woe unto the next restaurant, bar that wants to open up on our corner," Lipman said.
Ofshtein hopes to open his doors on May 1.