By Adam Pincus
The board voted down the application Jan. 2 for an on-premises license for Ivis Bar and Tavern at 102-03 44th Ave. in Corona, citing a neighborhood already crowded with liquor establishments,Richard Italiano, district manager for CB 4, which represents Corona and Elmhurst, said the new application had been altered slightly from the previous applications with the inclusion of food, but was still not acceptable to the board.”There is a huge amount of community outcry about that establishment,” Italiano said.Representatives of the bar did not respond to a request for comment.The bar became a proxy battle in the 2006 campaign for state Senate between Sen. John Sabini (D-Jackson Heights) and his challenger, City Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-Corona). Sabini and community members held a rally outside Ivis and other nearby establishments June 8 to oppose granting and renewing four liquor licenses in the area. Several days later, supporters of Monserrate charged that the bars were being unfairly targeted.The community board rejected previous applications in October 2005 and February 2006, and the owners sent a letter Dec. 5 notifying the board that they were going to resubmit an application for a liquor licence.Reach reporter Adam Pincus by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
