Manhattan CB2 outdoor-dining group issues mixed approvals, denies several roadway cafes with modifications

Stella Fitzgerald, vice chair of the Manhattan Community Board 2 Outdoor Dining Working Group, presided over the Feb. 10 meeting and said the board would review six outdoor-dining applications and make advisory recommendations to the Department of Transportation (DOT).

The board heard public testimony and applicant presentations on roadway and sidewalk café proposals from Wines and Vintages Inc. (d/b/a Cork Wine Bar, 69 Thompson St.), 222 Cassiel LLC (d/b/a Crispy Heaven, 222 Lafayette St.), Little Hen (155 Bleecker St./Thompson St. frontage), Zondra Hospitality LLC (d/b/a Cabin, 300 Spring St.), West Village LLC (63 Carmine St.), and RHNY Guest House (55 Gansevoort St.). Public commenters raised recurring concerns about pedestrian clearance, unauthorized merchandise and platforms, and emergency-vehicle access on narrow streets.

“The street is a very, very narrow, neighborhood street,” public commenter Darlene Lutz said of Thompson Street, adding, “Any outdoor dining sheds on this street are an impediment to traffic flow.” Committee members repeatedly returned to emergency-access and FDNY waiver rules, citing the risk on narrow north–south streets where large apparatus must operate.

Applicant Natalia Shklar, owner of Cork Wine Bar, described design changes to shorten the roadside cafe to 13.5 feet and said DOT had asked that the roadway-cafe width be set to 6.5 feet; she told the board she would remove exterior advertising and not place commercial garbage in the street. The board nonetheless voted to recommend denial for the Cork Wine Bar roadway application while sending a list of modifications to DOT, asking for corrected drawings that show manhole clearance, consistent width labeling, checked ADA/flooring/barrier boxes and confirmation that the cafe will not extend past the storefront or a residential entry.

For Crispy Heaven at 222 Lafayette, neighbors and commenters said the business had placed tables and displays outdoors without a license in prior months. Michael Kelly, representing the applicant, said the operation would use stanchions and limit seating. The working group approved the application with modifications requiring the primary building entrance (PBE) to be clearly labeled, removal of sidewalk objects that impede pedestrians, and ADA confirmation.

The board raised extensive concerns about the RH Guest House sidewalk installation at 55 Gansevoort, where a public commenter and board members said the built decking, planters, additional seating bays and what appear to be permanently affixed speakers do not match the plans approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and may be inconsistent with DOT revocable-consent rules. Zach told the board the site had been built to a plan that LPC had previously rejected and that a more minimal plan was approved in 2020; he said the existing structures “privatized half the sidewalk.” The board recommended denial with a long list of corrective modifications (remove platform and enclosed elements; remove seating bays not in front of the restaurant interior; remove speakers and fixed planters that extend beyond allowed limits) and asked that DOT and LPC be informed for follow-up.

Little Hen’s roadside proposal drew particular scrutiny because the plan would sit across from another roadway cafe and likely requires an FDNY waiver; committee members noted FDNY guidance that opposing roadway cafes should be offset by at least 15 feet. Carter Booth recalled a prior large fire in the area and urged caution: “this was the site of a huge 5 alarm fire and none of the fire trucks could access the location,” he said. The board recommended denial for Little Hen’s roadway application and requested clearer labeling of shared or neighboring tenancy/service entries on the submitted plan.

Other items: Cabin (300 Spring St.) and West Village (63 Carmine St.) were approved with modifications focused on ADA and pedestrian clearance, with the board noting prior enforcement history and requiring clarified site plans and ADA confirmations.

Votes at a glance (working-group recommendations to DOT/LPC): - Cork Wine Bar (69 Thompson St.) — recommendation: deny with modifications (requested corrected site plan, manhole clearance, checked ADA/flooring/barrier boxes; vote: denial with modifications recorded in business session). - Cabin (300 Spring St.) — recommendation: approve with modifications (confirm ADA; note prior summonses; vote: approved with modifications). - West Village (63 Carmine St.) — recommendation: approve with modifications (confirm ADA; adjust site plan; vote: approved with modifications). - RH Guest House (55 Gansevoort St.) — recommendation: deny with modifications (remove platform, unauthorized seating, speakers and planters; confirm 3 feet of diamond plating uncovered; vote: denial with modifications). - Crispy Heaven (222 Lafayette St.) — recommendation: approve with modifications (label PBE; remove obstructive objects; ensure pedestrian clearance; vote: approved with modifications). - Little Hen (Thompson St. frontage) — recommendation: deny with modifications (FDNY waiver concerns; clarify shared entry/service access; vote: denial with modifications).

The working group’s recommendations are advisory and will be forwarded to DOT and, where applicable, the Landmarks Preservation Commission or other enforcement agencies for final decisions or required corrections. The meeting concluded with members noting two additional new applications on the board’s docket and adjourning for the night.