The Pedestrian Zoning Of Manhattan*

Congestion pricing as guiding principle and universal concept for Manhattan below 86th Street:

Renowned chef and restaurateur David Bouley’s plans to open a new high-end restaurant have hit a speed bump that could add him to a growing list of entrepreneurs walking away from restaurant and bar projects in Manhattan.

The committee that represents TriBeca for Community Board 1 last night voted 6–4 to oppose the New York State Liquor Authority providing Mr. Bouley with a liquor license for the Japanese eatery he wants to open at 111 West Broadway, Brushstrokes.

One board member, Julie Nadel, read aloud from several newspaper articles chronicling Mr. Bouley’s run-ins with the health department, a lawsuit involving his insurance company, and two dangerous carbon monoxide leaks discovered within a month at one of his celebrated TriBeCa restaurants. Later, supporters of Mr. Bouley painted a different picture, describing a man of high character with a penchant for charity, who cooked for workers at ground zero after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and continues to attract dollars to the neighborhood. Before the vote, board member Laura Braddock spoke on Mr. Bouley’s behalf, saying she felt as if some of the board members had a personal agenda.

. . .

The number of liquor license applications that have been shot down across Manhattan has significantly dropped since 2002, statistics show, a downward trend that several lawyers said is misleading. They argue that while the numbers suggest the authority has become more lenient, they actually illustrate that fewer are attempting to obtain licenses due the cumbersome and risky process.

*Speaking of which . . .