A man who wants to open a piano lounge on State Street came up against a wall of protest from those who live or own property nearby.
Anthony Urbano wants to build a high-end lounge at 932 State St., next to La Carreta Mexican take-out restaurant, on commercial State Street near Bishop. He’s already got a couch in there and a name for the club: “Granite.”
The bar would serve wine and liquor and would have leather furniture and granite-topped tables, Urbano explained in an application. His proposal was considered, then tabled, by the Board of Zoning Appeals at a Tuesday meeting, where neighbors came forward with parking and other concerns.
BZA member Chris Vigilante, who owns Christopher Martins Restaurant & Pub just two blocks away at 860 State St., made clear his association but said he didn’t think his business ties would bias his vote.
“I feel I can be fair and honest,” Vigilante told Urbano. Vigilante offered the applicant the choice as to whether he should remove himself from voting on the proposal due to owning the bar. Urbano told Vigilante he could stay.
Urbano, who’s seeking a special exception to sell alcohol in a BA zone, detailed his plans for the intimate Granite, which would seat only 25 (storefront pictured). There would be occasional live music from a piano. No dancing. Wine, chocolate, and some food, but nothing prepared on-site.
The proposal met eight opposing replies, in written and human form.
Alex Marathas (pictured at top at right), who lives at Bishop and State, showed up to the meeting with a small group of people with a vested interest in the State Street corridor. He questioned whether another bar was a good idea.
“What kind of establishment would this be?” Marathas queried, speaking of motorcycles and unruly cars down near J.P. Dempseys, shootings outside Humphrey’s East, and boisterousness by Goodfellas.
Adding another bar could bring “irresponsible” behavior, “while bringing nothing new to the neighborhood,” Marathas warned.
Marathas, a parking watchdog, also took issue with Urbano’s parking plan. By zoning law, Urbano needs to come up with four more parking spots. Urbano said he’d made arrangements for valet parking service down to a lot across from the Star Supply site. That’s about two-tenths of a mile away.
Marathas said he doubts people would want to park their cars so far away. More likely, he reckoned, they would circle for much-coveted spots closer to the lounge.
Bob Frew, who owns 922 – 928 and 934 State St. and used to be an East Rock alderman, shared a story of the “incredible problems” with that specific property in the past.
A porno store once opened there, bringing a crowd of 200 picketers outside the building. It was shut down within a day of opening, Frew said, because the store had only one egress.
While no porn videos are involved in the current plans, and the egress issue has been resolved, Frew did question the prudence of putting a bar in such a small place — a one-story building 15 feet wide and 64 feet deep. His wife, Susan Frew, as well as four neighbors, said they oppose the plan, mainly because of parking.
Nearby condo owner Ben Berkowitz came with a technical complaint: He had not been properly noticed of the application, as is required by law. Fellow condo owners might have been interested in attending had they been noticed, he argued.
Dissatisfied with a lack of documents — Urbano didn’t have a formal lease with his valet parking site, nor an explanation for what would happen to a rear shed — the BZA gave him three days to submit those papers, and tabled the item until a future vote.