After some Ridgewood residents voiced their displeasure about the pop-up urban beach beer garden, La Playa NYC, coming to their part of the neighborhood next month, one local lawmaker is backing their claims.
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan has written a letter to Vincent Bradley, chairman of the State Liquor Authority (SLA), requesting that he look into the farm brewing license application filed at the Ridgewood location.
In the letter, Nolan expressed her support for residents’ concerns over the noise, traffic and littering that this outdoor beer garden will bring to those who live near 176 Woodward Ave., where La Playa NYC will be.
“The location would be an open-air location where beer would be served. Its proposed hours of operation would extend to midnight most nights including weekday evenings,” Nolan wrote. “This will maximize the negative impact such an establishment will have on the nearby residential properties and residents’ daily lives, making it completely inappropriate at this location.”
La Playa NYC is scheduled to open in Ridgewood on June 4 and run all summer until September. It will operate Mondays through Thursdays from 5 p.m. to midnight, and from noon to midnight on Fridays through Sundays.
“We are trying to do a positive thing for the neighborhood,” said Marcus Burnett, co-owner of Rockaway Brewing Company. “We are trying to create a community space for all people who don’t have an outdoor space. We are community-oriented and family-friendly people.”
When it comes to the issue of litter, La Playa NYC will have garbage cans all around the property and regular garbage removal to reduce the amount of litter created by the urban beach beer garden.
“As far as traffic, I encourage people to visit from the neighborhood on their bikes,” Burnett added.
Burnett confirmed that during weekdays the music will be cut off at 10 p.m. to respect the neighbors who have to get up and go to work the following morning.
“I spend a lot of time at the site working on the project as a small business owner, and people tell me that they are excited about having a beach open,” Burnett said. “I understand there are concerns, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Everything we have applied for is in compliance with the State Liquor Authority.”
Photo: Google Maps
