Knockdown Center gets limited liquor license

From the Queens Chronicle:

After nearly two years of taking body blows from the community, the Knockdown Center finally landed a counterpunch.

The State Liquor Authority approved a liquor license for the controversial arts and entertainment venue at 52-19 Flushing Ave. in Maspeth, but with multiple conditions and stipulations.

The maximum capacity of the Knockdown Center must be reduced from 3,100 to 1,800, and only 12 full-capacity events can be held over the course of a year, down from 18 originally proposed.

Venue owner David Sklar tried to persuade SLA commissioners Kevin Kim and Jeanique Greene to allow for a maximum capacity of 2,000 before being talked down to 1,800 by Greene.

Events with 1,000 or more attendees must only take place on Friday or Saturday nights and must be done by 2 a.m. All gatherings occurring between Sunday and Thursday must have fewer than 1,000 people and end by midnight.

Other stipulations include one security guard per every 75 guests and one additional 30-seat shuttle bus running constantly between the venue and the Jefferson Street L train station three-quarters of a mile away per every 500 attendees.

The list of over a dozen stipulations put forth in April by the Juniper Park Civic Association, Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together and Citizens for a Better Maspeth were also conditions added by the SLA.

The word on the street is that they (actually an unnamed associate) hired Al D'Amato's lobbying firm to help them get their license.

Queens Council on the Arts now lobbying for liquor licenses

From the Queens Ledger:

The Knockdown Center continued its years-long fight to secure a liquor license at the Community Board 5 meeting last Wednesday, during which affiliates, employees and the owner of the center all took to the microphone and handed out pamphlets advocating for the board to reconsider their vote last year to deny the license.

The move comes after the center’s recertification hearing last month with the State Liquor Authority, during which a vote on the license was postponed until the SLA’s June 2nd session. The SLA had previously denied the center’s initial application in May of 2014.

A handful of other community members attended the meeting to make the case for the center, however a board rule limiting the number of people who can advocate for a certain issue during a public forum to three precluded many from speaking.

In a letter she was unable to read aloud but passed on to this newspaper, Lynn Lobell, Grants and Resource Director for Queens Council on the Arts, said her organization was a strong supporter of the center.

“Local artists value Knockdown Center as an important arts resource,” the letter read. “QCA supports the Knockdown Center because they are committed to be a positive force in the community.”

Pardon me, but why in hell is the grants director for a tax exempt not-for-profit arts organization such as QCA lobbying a community board for a liquor license?

Queens hipsters continue to behave badly

Word has come in that a concert held on Veterans Day at the Knockdown Center resulted in a really long 8 hour line, no potties for the revelers, lots of public urination, trespassing and littering and the parking was a disaster. Here's footage of one of the attendees who got caught with her pants down:

Oh and remember "TransPecos" which was supposedly applying for a liquor license so they could pay for an A/C for mentally challenged students that they invite to play there during the day? They sailed past CB5 but then messed up big time and their liquor license was denied by SLA. Why? Word is that they stupidly posted a "BYOB" sign in their window and got raided by the NYPD and liquor was found. Whoopsie! Now they're calling electeds like mad in an attempt to try to fix their boo-boo.

Want proof? Above is a screenshot of SLA's map of current and pending liquor licenses. You'll notice the absence of a colored dot on Wyckoff between Hancock and Weirfield Streets. That means the application was 86'ed.

As a good friend stated when this was brought to her attention, "Welcome to the generation of geniuses who will be paying our social security kiddo. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid."

Indeed.

I also thought I would point once more out that Council Member Crowley supports both of these venues... and one of them isn't even in her district.

SLA denies liquor license for Knockdown Center

From the Queens Chronicle:

The sparring match between the Knockdown Center and the community over the arts and entertainment venue's liquor license application is over, for now, with the opposed residents and elected officials winning by way of knockout.

The State Liquor Authority denied the liquor license application of the Knockdown Center, the controversial former factory at 52-19 Flushing Ave. in Maspeth, on Tuesday afternoon, with the overwhelming community opposition to the venue cited as the main reason for denial.

"We have gotten strong community opposition from all corners," SLA chairman Dennis Rosen said. "As far as we know, they did not change their position."

Rosen also expressed uneasiness about the lack of late-night public transportation in the area around the Knockdown Center and the nearly one-mile walk to the closest L subway line stop as secondary reasons for the denial.

In addition, a May 8th M.I.A. concert has been cancelled. I suppose not enough people want to see a show on a Thursday night in Maspeth that they can see on Saturday night in Manhattan. Duh.

Knockown Center hosts porn event [NSFW]

It was a very interesting Friday night in Maspeth last week...

Here we are at the Knockdown Center. Approaching the venue, it looks innocent enough.

Nice sized crowd. This looks like it may be one of those wholesome educational activities that Maspeth has been promised by the guy that owns this place.

Oh, wait, no... "Hedonists". That word popped up a lot in online references to this event.

And there we are. The original photo was NOT blurred.

It's funny how Dizzy Lizzy Crowley never mentioned "porn" while lobbying for this place to get a liquor license.

As per Crowley and the folks that run the place, we were supposed to be getting an "arts center" along the lines of PS1 and MoMA. When are these types of events scheduled at those institutions? I keep missing them.

Originally, I figured the mention of BJs in the bathroom referred to something depicted in the slideshow.

But then I discovered that this place only has one built bathroom. So who knows what goes on inside it?

Ladies, would you feel comfortable sharing this space with young men drinking alcohol?


Aaaand this photo brings up an interesting question. Since the place is still under construction, it needs a temporary place of assembly permit to host large crowds of people. So which pencil pusher at DOB thought it was okay to allow them to keep gigantic boulders in the aisles, blocking the paths of egress?

And they plan to have the boulders sitting there during next week's rap concerts, which are expected to draw 5x the number of attendees. From Bushwick Daily:

Upcoming art shows include “Sound and Fury,” an exhibition of large scale sculpture works by Joel Shapiro, Richard Nonas and more, curated by Clocktower Gallery...The show will be up and running during the MIA show, allowing for a very unique opportunity for concert and rave goers to interact with fine art sculptures.

Interact? How about break their necks? And management swore up and down to CB5 that they would never have a "rave" event at the Knockdown Center. So much for that.

From the Queens Chronicle:

Meanwhile, the temporary liquor permits the center sought for the two concerts to be played by popular Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A., scheduled for May 8 and 9, were denied by the SLA.

Thank goodness for small favors!

After nearly 30 minutes of testimony and questioning, the State Liquor Authority decided to give the operators of the Knockdown Center, the controversial arts and events venue at 52-19 Flushing Ave. in Maspeth, until the close of business on April 29 to submit additional paperwork concerning security at large events.

The facility is also seeking a permit to host up to 5,000 people at a time.

A vote on the center’s liquor license application will occur at the agency’s next board meeting, on May 6.

Terrence Flynn, the attorney representing the Knockdown Center at the hearing, asked for an adjournment from the board to allow more time for the center’s owners to formulate a comprehensive security report and to allow for a meeting with the 104th Precinct.

“I would ask to leave the record open for two weeks to provide a complete security report and to have a meeting with the precinct,” Flynn said. “If we can control the numbers of people that at these events, then we can satisfy the community’s and precinct’s concerns.”

Area civic activist Christina Wilkinson testified that young children are believed to be living at the center illegally, an allegation which Flynn denied.

“I know of no children occupying this building at all,” he said.

Records reveal that complaints about illegal occupancy have been lodged since 2011, but the owner has not responded to requests for inspection.

And this place has been hosting events since 2012 and just decided to come up with a comprehensive security plan? And everyone is supposed to be okay with that, I suppose.

God help us all.

Magical Mystery Buses pop up again

Here's some footage from inside the Magical Blue Bus previously featured here. In this video, it's on the premises of the Knockdown Center after one of their party events:

I'm guessing that chick featured in the beginning likes mushrooms, and I don't mean the ones on Roberta's pizza.

Back on Banker Street in Greenpoint, we stumbled upon the magical blue bus and its purple friend.

Is that a legal plate for a bus? All the plates I have seen on buses say "bus" at the bottom of them.

Strangely, "@Quetzalbus" links to a bus service in Mexico City.

These buses are often found on Banker Street, near a high school in Greenpoint. Previously, they hung out in Bushwick.

They both have sleeping accommodations in the back.

Thanks to a commenter, I discovered this explanation on Facebook: "That is our Bluebyrd Tribe's Bluebyrd Bus and the Quetzal her purple sister! These are our traveling homes for fabulous adventures to festivals such as burningman, jazz fest, SxSW, environmental activist events and more:)" And a shuttle for local hipster parties.

And here's a collection of more clips of what goes on at the Knockdown Center"arts center".

It's still not too late to sign the petition against their liquor license.

Crowley clams up on Knockdown Center

From the Queens Chronicle:

The British-born, Sri Lankan-raised M.I.A., whose real name is Mathangi Arulpragasam, burst onto the scene with her Grammy-nominated mega-hit “Paper Planes” in 2008.
Since then, her music has been critically acclaimed but has also spawned controversy.

The short film that accompanied her 2010 hit single “Born Free” depicts a mock genocide against red-haired people, even featuring a scene where a child is brutally shot in the head and killed.

Det. Thomas Bell of the 104th Precinct said there will be a police presence in the area during the shows, as well.

“We’re going to be out there monitoring everything,” Bell said. “We’ll be there.”

What fine family entertainment! I have to say that this is a pretty good article from the Chronicle about what's going on in Maspeth at the Knockdown Center. However, the reporter omits the fact that the "controversial rapper" is best known for flipping America the bird during the Superbowl and is currently in court fighting a $16.6M fine for the stunt imposed by the NFL.

But the kicker is:

When contacted by the Chronicle, a spokesman for Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) said she had no comment on the matter.

What's wrong, Liz? What happened to the good jobs in the film industry that you said were going to happen here? Isn't it great that the NYPD's already limited police manpower will be going toward babysitting thousands of non-residents who have issues controlling themselves while your constituents will have to wait for responses? Crowley's taken a page from M.I.A.'s handbook and flipped Maspeth the bird.

Here's a shot of one of the the Knockdown Center's petitions. You'll notice not one Maspeth address on it. You'll also notice there's no mention of a liquor license to serve alcohol to up to 5,000 people at a time. If you feel it necessary to hide your intentions from your petitioners, what does that say? They don't need a petition to open an as-of-right arts center.

Please sign the petition against the Knockdown Center's liquor license. It only takes a minute to do.

Knockdown Center's permits being revoked

The Knockdown Center's work permits are in the process of being revoked...

and their Place of Assembly has been disapproved...

but all the Times Ledger wants to do is give them free publicity for their May rap concerts which might not end up happening.

You gotta love certain Queens newspapers for always reporting half the story.

Knockdown Center playing with fire

A reader sent these shots to me and I must say, they're pretty unbelievable.

Does this look safe to you? What is this firepit even for? Surely not heat and not food. And their bus has been spotted again this weekend at the triangle near Banker/North 15th Streets and Driggs/Nassau Ave.

So, are you sick of this place yet? Well then, there's the opportunity to oppose their liquor license for 5000 people. Here is the info.

If you can't fax a letter in yourself, you send it via e-mail and it will be faxed for you. If you're tired of not being able to do anything but watch the borough fall apart, then here's something very real you can do.

You'll also notice that in the liquor license application, the names of main investors Gina and Tony Argento do not appear. I wonder why that is? Failing to list the names of all principals on one's application is not looked upon kindly by the State Liquor Authority.

It has also been brought to my attention that David Sklar is operating a niteclub/arts center at 15 Rewe Street in Brooklyn which is in a really sketchy area. It also was formerly home to a door factory owned by the Sklars, just like the Knockdown Center was. Here are samples of the freakshow that may soon come to Queens unless we get serious about stopping it:

You really can't make this shit up. As a friend of mine put it, "It's like experiencing hallucinogenic drugs without actually ever taking them."

Miss Heather has more on this venture.

Recipe for tweeding

• Take a charity founded by Melinda Katz's mother
• Throw in this cast of characters
• Add elected officials bending over backwards to give their funding to them
• Top it off with $14,500 in donations from the Argentos and Dave Sklar to Melinda Katz

and this is the result:

Public dollars going toward a place that the community board and community-at-large, oppose, that's not actually an arts center, but a niteclub for Brooklyn gentrifiers.

Could it be that I have it all wrong and the KDC is actually a place where Katz will hone her singing skills and Curtis will host erotic poetry readings? (BARF!)

Don't donate to Queens Council on the Arts. Or any elected official that gives them money, for that matter.

Magical Blue Bus finds a friend

So that Magical Blue Bus is still hanging around on Banker Street in Bushwick, but it seems to have multiplied. Now there's also a purple bus!
I don't know why they seem to be tethered together. And the new one actually has NY State plates. Wonders never cease!

Magical blue bus still gracing Brooklyn streets

My trusted informant in Brooklyn sends over shots of the magical blue bus spotted once again this week.
Oh my, something seems to have happened to the door!
I'm sure the parishioners are thrilled to have this lovely piece of "artwork" across the street from their sanctuary. Nice to see that the bunkbeds are still intact.
It's really quite a piece of mobile creativity, so it's no surprise that it's affiliated with the Knockdown Center, which prefers skankily decorated vehicles with out-of-state plates.
I find it hard to believe that those racks are street legal, but at least they are sans gas tanks this time.
Here we have a shot of the whole vehicle.

And now a word from our correspondent:

"What I find interesting is when I have seen this bus it is parked on the same place on Banker Street (just north of Nassau/Berry) OR on Bogart between McKibben and Boerum. They seem to have an IBZ fetish."

(The strategy is to hide where you think no one will complain about your fleabag motel on wheels.)

City: Knockdown Center investors "lack good character, honesty and integrity"

The Knockdown Center has a long way to go to clean up its act, but at least they're off to a slow start. The tarp covering the derelict scooter sitting outside their property has disappeared (but the scooter hasn't). Also now gone are 2 of the 3 illegal signs that were hanging on the fence.

Anyway, the posts I have authored about the Knockdown Center up to this point have been focused on the behavior that has gone on at the location and its physical condition. This time, I'm going to tell you about the main investors in the property - Tony and Gina Argento, who also happen to be owners of Broadway Stages in Greenpoint. Here's how certain elected officials feel about them:

From the Times Newsweekly:

City Council Member Helen Sears...vouched for [Tony] Argento as a “responsible” individual who “cares for the area.”

From the Daily News:

“I have known the owners for a long time. They also do good philanthropic work.” - Council Member Elizabeth Crowley

From Brooklyn USA:

"AND OF COURSE, THERE’S THE SIBLING SUPER DUO BEHIND BROADWAY STAGES, TONY – AND AS TONY KNOWS, MY FAVORITE – GINA ARGENTO, WHO ARE BOTH SO DEDICATED TO BROOKLYN’S FUTURE." - Borough President Marty Markowitz

But the glowing praise offered by Council Member Steve Levin takes the cake:

"When you talk about who gives back, between Tony and Gina and Paul, you're talking about 90% of what makes this community work sometimes."

Levin was speaking on behalf of Chris Olechowski, present Chair of CB1, Brooklyn at a fundraiser hosted by those lauded. (When Vito Lopez' proteges are praising someone, watch out!)

However, the Argentos are not as saintly as our elected representatives would like us to believe. Here's a dose of reality:

Luna Lighting Inc Denial

In case you don't have time to sift through the entire document, allow me to highlight the most relevant sections:



Somehow, caring for the area, doing good philanthropic work, being dedicated to Brooklyn's future and giving back 90% of what makes a community work seem to be lacking here. It's more like "see what you can get away with before getting caught, and then attempt damage control." It's what happened with Luna Lighting, and it's what's been happening at the Knockdown Center.

Speaking of which, just last Friday, the KDC received their blessing from the Dept of Buildings for a 5,000-person Place of Assembly as a gallery/exhibition hall, after supposedly having "withdrawn" the application.

CB5 was allegedly told that the reason for the initial rejection of their alteration permit was because KDC underestimated the cost of the work at $10,000. When questioned at a public hearing, KDC manager Tyler Myers stated that it was an "erroneous error" and would definitely be correct on the resubmitted paperwork. Owner David Sklar stated within the first 30 seconds of the below video that renovations would likely cost anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000:


Yet the second cost affadavit estimated the work at a paltry $25,000.

1) The Cost Affidavit requires the applicant to attest to the accuracy of the applicant’s estimate of the construction costs, which is the basis for the fees assessed by the DOB in connection with the application.
2) As the home renovation blog "Beating Upwind" states, "Normally [the Dept of Finance] is limited in how much they can jump your property taxes, but when you do substantial improvements that is the one time they’re allowed to bump the taxes up substantially – but only by the amount of improvements to the property."

Say no more.

Despite the ridiculous discrepancy between what the owner estimated his cost to be at the CB5 hearing and what was submitted on paper, DOB approved the application. I guess when the mayor schleps all the way to the rooftop of the main investors' place of business to hold press conferences, the Commissioner of DOB poses with them for photos, and local electeds are fawning over them, they're probably going to get what they ask for from DOB.

Keep in mind that these are people Liz Crowley considers to be "good friends" and is actively working to help them obtain a liquor license to open a 5,000-person capacity rave center across the street from her constituents' homes.

Knockdown Center has become an "artful" eyesore

From the Queens Chronicle:

Knockdown Center manager Tyler Myers was present at the meeting but did not speak to the board. However, he believes that the Knockdown Center has been and will be a force for good in the community.

"I have a long history of work in the non-profit sector, experience I am excited to bring to the Knockdown Center’s operations,” he said in an email after the meeting. “In a single year of operation, Knockdown Center has donated thousands of square feet of warehouse space to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for their Hurricane Sandy emergency response operations … and produced fundraisers for organizations like Ugly Duckling Presse, a Queens-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and registered NYS charity.”

Yes, he worked in the non-profit sector - for Friends of the High Line. You know, the place that's supposed to be a public park, but is increasingly becoming privatized, much like Flushing Meadows. And Ugly Duckling Presse is in Brooklyn. Their corporate filing says so and their website says so. And we're talking Red Hook, not close to the border. But they're used to bending the truth, so we expected this.

"We feel good about the mass transit options there,” Myers said. “Four major bus lines stop within a block of us. There’s an L-train less than three-quarters of a mile from the Knockdown Center. There’s no reason why anyone coming to Knockdown would go through a residential neighborhood; they’d stay on main thoroughfares.”

How do you plan to "contribute to your community" and "build an important home for culture in Maspeth" if you don't expect Maspeth, or any Queens residents, to attend your alleged broad cultural programming? Maspeth is in the direction opposite of where the L train is, sir. And those "four major bus lines" are not very reliable at 2am.

Anyway, these photos show us exactly what you have brought to Maspeth: eyesores.

When I sent her these pics, my friend, Miss Heather, observed:

"It's like hippy meets Fred T. Sanford."

This sits outside the Knockdown Center on a public sidewalk. WTF is it? An "art project"?