FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com JULY 30, 2015 • TIMES 3 Cops shut down Ridgewood hot spots BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@ridgewoodtimes @robbpoz Excessive noise, drug use and even episodes of violence led police to shut down two Ridgewood bars earlier this week. In executing court orders, the 104th Precinct padlocked the Arena Billiards Cafe located at 341 St. Nicholas Ave. and Sabor Y Rumba located at 666 Seneca Ave. for various infractions. The precinct announced the shutdowns on its Twitter account on July 20. According to sources, the closures were the result of investigations launched through complaints Buildings Department nixes Glendale homeless shelter floor plans BY ANTHONY GUIDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Those fi ghting against the proposed homeless shelter at 78-16 Cooper Ave. in Glendale received a bit of good news last week, when the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB) revoked the fl oor plans for the shelter after a full audit of the plans. The notice to revoke — which according to the DOB is pending until the plan review is completed — stalls the progress of the property owner, Michael Wilner, in renovating the former factory, which the nonprofi t group Samaritan Village plans to use as a homeless shelter. The full audit found that the plans are not up to full code compliance, according to a DOB representative. “The project at this site remains under department review, and at this time there has not been a determination of the plan’s compliance with all applicable codes or the zoning resolution,” said a DOB spokesperson in an email. According to Robert Holden — a member of the Glendale/ Middle Village Coalition, a group consisting of residents, businesspeople and community leaders dedicated to opposing the shelter — the DOB originally disapproved the building plans for the site, then later gave the plans the green light. Once hearing of the plans’ approval, the Glendale/Middle Village Coalition raised enough money to legally challenge the Buildings Department. As a result, the DOB found “a laundry list of problems,” Holden said. “I don’t know why the Department of Buildings approved their application when there were so many fl aws,” Holden added. “It was mind-boggling that they approved it.” The coalition previously fi led legal action against the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), which previously approved a contract to open and operate the Glendale shelter, over what the coalition considered to be a fl awed environmental assessment of the location. The building is located in an industrially zoned area, was used for manufacturing for decades and is adjacent to a chemical storage facility. Holden hopes the coalition can build off the momentum of this latest snag in the shelter plans. “It is certainly another win for the neighborhood,” Holden said. “I think this demonstrates the resolve of the community that we came together. Most other communities wouldn’t do this. We raised enough money to fi ght, but the fi ght isn’t over yet.” from local residents. Police found that Sabor Y Rumba allegedly sold alcohol illegally to underage patrons and continued to sell booze to overly intoxicated patrons. The establishment also had a history of noise complaints. The allegations at Arena Billiards were more serious, police sources noted, as the club served as an incubator of criminal activity that eventually spilled onto the streets, such as assaults, robberies, and drug use and possession. In March, a 21-year-old man was shot to death on Palmetto Street, a few steps away from the Arena Billiards entrance. The owners of both establishments were ordered to appear in civil court to answer to the various charges against them. They must pay any civil penalties incurred before reopening the establishments, according to police. Photos via Twitter/@NYPD104Pct Arena Billiards and Sabor Y Rumba (at top) in Ridgewood were closed this week due to various quality-of-life infractions, according to police. RIDGEWOOD TIMES/File Photo The building plans for the proposed homeless shelter at 78-16 Cooper Ave. (pictured), have been denied by the Department of Buildings. I don’t know why the Department of Buildings approved their application when there were so many aws,” Holden added. “It was mind-boggling that they approved it.” --Robert Holden — a member of the Glendale/Middle Village Coalition
RT07302015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above