Community Board 13 District Manager Chuck Reichenthal concedes that the thumping music emanating from the Foxy Gentleman’s Club located downstairs from the board’s offices at 1201 Surf Avenue did not go unnoticed.
After all, it’s not unusual for members of Community Board 13 to be working in the office as late as 9:30 p.m. on some nights. The Foxy Gentleman’s Club opens its doors at 7 p.m.
The red neon sign hanging over the club’s entrance on West 12th Street depicting the outline of a nude woman, however, apparently did not pique anyone’s interest, despite it being only a few feet from the other sign on the same building directing visitors upstairs to Community Board 13’s offices.
“The sign is kind of innocuous,” Reichenthal offered. “It looks like half the Broadway shows out there today.”
As late as last week, Reichenthal said he had not yet peeked inside the Foxy Gentleman’s Club to see what was going on – even though he had expressed concerns with the club’s manager about the nature of the establishment just prior to its grand opening about four weeks ago.
“I spoke to her and she invited me in anytime I wanted to go,” Reichenthal said. “We’ve been swamped with the Brighton Beach and Coney Island rezoning — I just haven’t had a chance.”
Community Board 13 hosted a public hearing on the much anticipated rezoning of Brighton Beach this week at Coney Island Hospital. A public hearing on the city’s massive Coney Island redevelopment plan is scheduled for March 3 at Lincoln High School.
Community Board 13 member Brian Gotlieb expressed surprise that a topless club could open in the same building that also houses the community board offices — and is located down the block from Public School 90.
“I wouldn’t think it could open up given the location,” he said. “There have been bars coming in and out over the last few years. It certainly sounds like the law is being violated. I think it’s illegal and something Coney Island does not need especially in terms of the redevelopment going on. We need more forms of entertainment, but something like this does not fit in that frame. The type of entertainment that we need is more family oriented.”
