Brooklynites aren’t in the clubs.
Plans for a massive new nightclub in Greenpoint, which would be open until 4am and accommodate up to 1,000 partygoers, have sparked fierce opposition from local officials and residents, who fear it will ruin the vibrancy of the trendy, leafy neighbourhood.
Tao Hospitality Group, the hospitality giant behind Chelsea’s popular party spot Marquee and Lower Manhattan’s Louzie’s Nightclub, is eyeing the waterfront space overlooking the East River as a “new entertainment concept.”
The proposed venue at 25 Franklin Street is a former short-lived industrial site in the Brooklyn Arts District, and before that was music venue House of Vance.
“This proposal has united our community in strong opposition… Not a single resident has spoken out in support of this project,” said state Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and City Councilman Lincoln Ressler (D-Brooklyn). He wrote about the plan in a July 12 letter to potential club managers..
“We would appreciate it if you would listen to the community’s concerns and proactively announce that you are seeking an alternative location for the new Tao nightclub,” the official added.
A Tao spokesperson told The Washington Post that the planned venue will be a “new entertainment concept” that reflects “North Brooklyn’s vibrant music scene and culture” and will not be branded by Tao.
Asked about the community backlash, a spokesperson said the group is “listening to feedback” but is “surprised” by the pushback.
“As a company founded in New York City more than 20 years ago, Tao Group Hospitality is constantly exploring new opportunities to expand while committed to improving the communities in which we operate. We were surprised by the community opposition to our application as this location was previously used as a venue with a 4am liquor license,” the spokesperson said, but declined to say whether Tao was considering an alternative venue at this time.
Critics opposed the nightclub cited noise, traffic, crime, safety and impacts to wildlife near the Bushwick Inlet waterway as their main concerns. According to minutes from a May meeting of Brooklyn Community Board 1:.
Meanwhile, another 300-seat nightclub, Deuce, is set to open across the street at 1 Meserole Avenue. It will function as a community center during the day. Green Pointers reports.
“This is a heavily residential area and this would cause great disruption to the peace of this quaint little neighborhood,” one Greenpoint local testified in an email, according to the May meeting documents.
“Allowing Tao Group to run a 1,000-seat nightclub until 4am will deny local residents the peace and security they so desperately need.”
“Franklin Street is already plagued by traffic congestion,” wrote another disgruntled resident.
“You can imagine the hellish scene it would be if Ubers, taxis, town cars, etc. were coming from all over the city, and unfortunately, Tao is particularly known for attracting some of the most entitled and thoughtless customers in the city.”
Another local critic, who admitted to “loving nightclubs,” argued that Tao “doesn’t fit the vibe of this great neighborhood.”
“Don’t ruin Greenpoint,” residents chanted.
The elected officials who signed the July 12 letter are now pressuring the New York State Liquor Control Board to deny the license application.
A spokesperson for the New York State Liquor Control Department told The Post that Tao has not yet submitted a formal liquor license application to the state.
However, the SLA confirmed it has received letters of opposition from local residents and leaders and that it takes all feedback into consideration when assessing applications for liquor licences.
The Liquor Control Board added that any application opposed by local boards or elected officials will be subject to a public hearing.
This isn’t the first time the luxury hospitality group has been in the news.
Tao came under fire last month after former hostess Arielle Roman dumped feces into the restaurant’s koi pond, causing more than $3,000 in damage, according to court records.
Roman claimed he was targeted because he spoke out about sexual assaults committed by TAO promoters and that excrement was thrown at him to draw attention to the issue.
Property records show the address of the proposed Greenpoint nightclub is still owned by 11-25 Franklin St. LLC, the same company that owned the building during the heyday of House of Vance and the Arts District Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn Arts District was accused last March by disgruntled businesses on social media of taking on hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills from debtors. Green Pointers reported.
The venue later denied the “baseless allegations and inaccuracies,” adding that “third parties have either already settled, are in negotiations, or will soon be at the negotiating table.”
When I asked local residents about their thoughts on the plans for a nightclub in Bushwick Inlet Park, they seemed to have mixed feelings, but all agreed that the area has seen a recent increase in noise levels due to an increase in Brooklyn’s partygoers.
“I think [it would be cool]”This whole neighborhood is new and there’s an Hermes here that wasn’t there a few years ago,” Ali B., 27, told The Post.
“It was a place where skateboarders and artists and pot smokers lived. Now I call it the Hamptons. It’s Brooklyn’s Hamptons, to say the least.”
“It’s loud around here,” exclaimed Kay Michaels, 53. “This area is very lively with all the clubs. There’s already a lot of noise.”
“This little area in general is quite noisy,” agreed local Ryan O’Callaghan, 26, adding that “some rooftops can be quite loud” and that people are better off looking elsewhere for nightclubs.
But area delis said the new club will be a boon for business.
“At night, [business] “There are some bars that are particularly good, this one here, that one there,” said Mike Saeidi, 20, who works at a deli near the Bedford Avenue L station, the closest station to the nightclubs.
“Actually, I’d like to have another nightclub in the area. Nightlife is good for business.”
