Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Space Permits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors oppose Lighting Society plans for 45 Howard Street; fears about scale, noise and access
Summary
A proposed multi-floor private club and catering operation at 45 Howard Street prompted dozens of residents to urge Community Board 2's SLA committee to deny or limit the applications, citing noise, crowding, building safety and lack of neighborhood outreach.
A nonprofit called the Center for Emerging Culture, doing business as Lighting Society, sought liquor and catering permits for multiple floors at 45 Howard Street, drawing vocal opposition from residents who said the proposals would overwhelm a mostly residential block.
The proposals cover a members club on upper floors, a catering/event operation on another floor and rooftop space; the applicant told the committee the concept blends arts programming and private-member events. Lighting Society founder Timothy Phillips said the group will add numerous safeguards, including on-site monitoring and sound controls: “We’re putting layers and layers and layers of protections in order to make sure that we’re not disturbing community,” Phillips said at the meeting.
Residents said the plan’s scale and some outstanding permits present public-safety and quality-of-life risks. “This proposal is absolutely destructive to everything we’ve built,” said Marie Doris, a longtime neighbor. “Please vote it down. Vote both of them down. There’s no way to mitigate it.” Others highlighted past complaints about the building, questions about egress and the number of people the applicant says it will serve; critics also noted that some Landmark Preservation and DOB filings had been withdrawn and requested clearer documentation before any licenses are considered.
Why it matters: The application would convert a large, multi-floor building into a combination private-members space and a catering/event venue. Residents and the Community Board urged clearer, written assurances about the building’s legal ability to host large events, how crowds would enter and exit, and how rooftop and outdoor activities would be limited.
What the committee heard: Phillips said the organization intends to host arts programs, salons and ticketed events and to require member referrals for full membership; he emphasized partnerships with arts organizations and consultants. Silver Art director Shannon Bunger said her organization supported Lighting Society’s arts programming. Neighbors said they were not approached adequately during the planning process and pointed to a history of loud uses at the site. Multiple residents described narrow stairways and a shared elevator and questioned how large events would safely ingress and egress.
Committee concerns and next steps: Members flagged three immediate areas for follow-up: (1) documentation of building approvals from the Department of Buildings and, where needed, the Landmarks Preservation Commission; (2) a detailed crowd-management and egress plan (including whether temporary place-of-assembly approvals would be required); and (3) a sound mitigation plan and limits on rooftop use. The committee requested the applicant provide written responses and technical documentation before the SLA filing proceeds.
What’s next: The committee did not vote on the applications. Members said they would consider any new documentation at a future meeting and recommended the applicant complete in-person outreach with the directly impacted residents. The concerns raised at the meeting — noise, traffic at closing time, and building safety — will be forwarded in any community resolution.
