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CB2 clears dozens of permits and resolutions: landmarks denies large mural at 344 Bowery; street‑activity, SLA and traffic items advance
Summary
Manhattan Community Board 2 cleared a large slate of committee recommendations at its June 18 meeting, approving dozens of Street Activities and SLA items, and adopting Landmarks recommendations that included denial of a large mural at 344 Bowery.
Manhattan Community Board 2 on June 18 moved a large package of committee recommendations, approving dozens of resolutions from Landmarks, Street Activities & Resiliency, Traffic & Transportation, and the State Liquor Authority (SLA) reviews.
Votes at a glance - Landmarks & Public Aesthetics (items 1'7): The board adopted the committee's recommendations. Notably, the board recommended denial of a large photorealistic mural of Jean‑Michel Basquiat at 344 Bowery, citing scale, context and questions about whether the work functions as advertising. One panel member abstained on the mural item. - Street Activities & Resiliency (items 1'2 plus 1 FYI renewal): The committee reviewed 21 permit applications and one FYI renewal. Most events and pop‑ups were approved with conditions; several no‑shows or applications that violated embargo rules were denied. Committee chairs flagged several unnamed brand pop‑ups and requested better disclosure from production companies; one board member voted no on item 20 (unnamed multi‑day brand activation) and another member abstained. Multiple recusals were recorded where members reported potential conflicts. - Traffic & Transportation (2 items): The board unanimously approved two items after an amendment. The amended resolution urges MTA/New York City Transit to make Access‑a‑Ride pilot data public and to upgrade technology and training for private carriers; the board added language asking that drivers be able to effectively communicate with riders, including provision of translation technology. - SLA & Liquor (SLA1 and SLA2 portfolios): The board approved a large slate of liquor license and sidewalk/roadway dining applications under SLA1 and SLA2. Most actions were "deny unless" conditional approvals (i.e., approved if applicants accept stipulations and incorporate them into their licenses). A number of applicants received roadway seating approvals; several applications were denied because of previous infractions or embargoed blocks. There were a small number of recusals and one recorded non‑unanimous vote on a specific application.
Controversies and committee notes - Basquiat mural (344 Bowery): Landmarks said the oversized, photorealistic depiction did not read as an appropriate historic‑district treatment and expressed concern about commercial benefit to the artist. The committee recommended denial of the mural, denial of a proposed maintenance plan that would allow deliberate fading, and asked for alternatives more sensitive to the district. - Unnamed brand pop‑ups: Street Activities committee members and some board members objected when production companies declined to disclose a brand under NDA; the committee has urged SAPO (Street Activity Permit Office) and production companies to provide more detail so the board can assess scale and impacts. One board member cast a measured "no" vote on the unnamed four‑day activation. - Outdoor dining stipulations: The committees emphasized conditional approvals, noting DOT and Dining Out NYC processing creates a backlog; several approvals were contingent on applicants accepting specific closing hours, noise and trash stipulations. Committee chairs said conditional approvals remain in effect until the license is changed by applicant request and will be reconsidered if applicants return for expanded hours.
Notable recusals and abstentions (as recorded at the meeting) - Member recusal: Rocio Sanz recused on SLA2 item 10 (stated relationship to a tenant). Donna Raftery recused on SLA1 items 1, 18 and 20 (meatpacking BID affiliation). Erica Olsen recused on SLA1 item 8 (client relationship disclosed). One abstention was recorded on Landmarks item 1 (mural denial).
Next steps: Board staff will transmit committee recommendations and stipulated conditions to the appropriate city agencies (DOT, SAPO, TLC, SLA) and will track compliance. The Street Activities committee asked members and residents to share photos of events that skirt permits so staff can document impacts.
Ending: Committee chairs thanked staff and volunteers for processing a heavy package of applications and noted several items will return if applicants seek modified approvals.
