Sidewalk cafes causing problems in Astoria

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From CBS 2:

“Ditmars Boulevard is evolving into a very, a tourist-attracted area,” said Florence Koulouris, District Manager of Queens Community Board 1.

Koulouris confirmed that more restaurants are opening, and more owners want to accommodate customers in the open air. She expects by year’s end, nearly 200 establishments will be permitted to do so.

The Pomeroy, 36-12 Ditmars Blvd., may be one of them. On Tuesday evening, the board voted in favor of outdoor seating there, with four tables and a total of eight seats.

Some neighbors are not happy about it.

“The community is furious because it’s run like a bar,” said Nicholas Vagenas, owner of American Woodworking next door. “People are on the street till 2, 3 in the morning.”

Vanegas showed CBS2 photos taken outside, with crowds of people hanging out on the sidewalk.

“They really don’t take care of the outside or their patrons,” Vanegas said. “They come out, they vomit on our doorways.”

Vanegas said he was not the only one who felt that way. Owners at Magic Nail Design and Spa, Astoria NY Furniture, and the Fabric Center all signed letters of opposition addressed to the Community Board.

“Plus, we lose the sidewalk,” Vanegas said. “We will not have room to pass.”

The problem is once you allow one sidewalk cafe, you have to allow them all. Too many restaurants are situated in one area.

No sidewalk café permit for Nonna's

From the Queens Courier:

The City Council unanimously struck down a controversial bid for a Whitestone sidewalk café Wednesday.

Owners of Nonna’s Pizzeria & Trattoria wanted to wrap an outdoor sitting area around their 22-30 154th St. Italian restaurant.

But a handful of neighbors said the proposal would bring excessive noise and take away parking spaces.

Lawmakers said the sidewalk is also not wide enough and too close to residential homes.

“The impact of this victory should ensure all future applicants make every effort to address the concerns of the community board and neighboring residents,” Councilman Paul Vallone said.

Vallone won't make decision on sidewalk cafe

From the Daily News:

Whitestone residents are hoping to block a popular Italian restaurant from opening what would be the area’s very first sidewalk cafe along a bustling commercial thoroughfare.
Nonna’s Pizzeria and Trattoria gained city approvals for outside tables this year, but the City Council still needs to give it final approval this month.

“The other stores thought they would lose customers because of parking,” said Kim Cody of the Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Association. “It didn’t seem like enlarging the restaurant was good for everybody concerned.”

The eatery, which offers pizza, pasta and Italian fare, wants to build an enclosed dining area with sliding doors on 154th St. near 24th Ave., just off Willets Point Blvd.
State Sen. Tony Avella said Council members should listen to Community Board 7 and neighbors who are concerned about traffic and noise. He called 154th St. “a small block of five mom-and-pop stores surrounded by one-family homes.”

City Councilman Paul Vallone, whose district includes the restaurant, has asked his Council colleagues to review the application. A spokesman said he is holding off on making a final decision, since the owners could amend the plan.

Sounds like he's in favor of it. Because his family being so involved in politics means that Paulie sure understands that the way it works is that you hint that you're going to ask the council to oppose it, and that forces the business to amend the plan.

Mr. Vallone also curiously voted with Republicans against sick people last week, in opposition to the rest of his party and the Queens Machine, whose endorsement he gleefully accepted. Is he trying to be the new "maverick?"

How many is too many?

From DNA Info:

Dozens of sidewalk cafes dot the streets of Astoria these days, attracting locals and visitors from around the city.

But while the crowds enjoy sipping their coffee and eating food al fresco, some residents say their increasing numbers are hard to swallow.

Outdoor seating started arriving in the area about two decades ago, but in recent years they have been popping up in increasing numbers, especially on 30th Avenue.

More than 20 of the 53 outdoor cafes in the neighborhood — the majority of the 88 in Queens — are located on the stretch, which has a variety of Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Greek and Italian restaurants.

Loizos Loizon, the owner of Avenue Cafe on 30th Avenue, said they have become an integral part of the neighborhood, where many residents are of European descent and the outdoor setting reminds them of home.

“Back in Europe, people like to sit outside and look at the sea or nature,” said Loizon, who came to the U.S. from Cyprus. “Here, we look at the streets, but it is better than nothing.”

But some residents say the al fresco dining scene is giving them agita.

When Patricia Schrader, a teacher and Astoria resident for 25 years, walks home from work along 30th Avenue, she says she has to slalom between various obstacles.

There have always been bus stops and street vendors there, she said, but in recent years a growing number of cafes have taken over a large portion of the sidewalk.

“It grows like a little tumor, they sprawled out all over,” said Schrader. “Sometimes the sidewalk isn’t wide enough.”

Moving around is especially difficult for people walking with a baby carriage or carrying bags. “Sometimes it’s difficult to pass through,” she said.