The rejections are piling up on Fulton Ferry Landing.
A Community Board 2 committee voted unanimously on Wednesday night to oppose a liquor license for a proposed Italian restaurant at 7 Old Fulton St.
The vote came one month after the same health, environment and social services panel objected to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory’s bid to serve booze.
A group of three neighbors — out of nearly 100,000 governed by CB2 — had petitioned the committee to buck the application.
“There is a great deal of loitering, and another restaurant will just heighten the problem,” said Mary O’Callahan, who lives above the proposed restaurant.
Dema Baledemic, the proprietor of the eatery, which would join the River Café, Pete’s Downtown, Five Front as the nearby booze-serving restaurants, and would join the nearby fray at the wine-and-beer-only Grimaldi’s pizzeria, retorted that he is simply “trying to create a beautiful restaurant, not [one with] noise in front.”
“I’m trying to create something that is great for the neighborhood,” added Baledemic, a former caterer and pizzeria owner in Bensonhurst.
But one committee member likened Baledemic’s proposed trattoria to a “gin mill” rather than a restaurant because the permit seeks the right to serve drinks until 2 am.
“If you’re not opening a bar, why would you want to stay open so late?” O’Callahan added.
The committee’s recommendation is only advisory. It will head to the State Liquor Authority after the CB2 executive committee signs off.
