Brooklyn Heights

Preservationist group hopes to block Pierhouse hotel liquor license

CB2 vote Wednesday

October 6, 2015 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Members of the group Save The View Now hope to block Starwood’s 1 Hotel liquor license application. The hotel is part of the Pierhouse complex, shown here rising above Brooklyn Bridge Park. Eagle photo by Kevin Jones
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Members of the preservationist group Save The View Now (STVN) plan to ask Community Board 2 (CB2) to deny a liquor license to Starwood’s 1 Hotel in the Pierhouse complex in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

CB2 is set to vote on the license Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. at the Brooklyn Hospital Center at 121 DeKalb Ave.

STVN, which has been fighting in court to preserve the view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, maintains that the structures atop the Pierhouse are illegal. These include an enclosed kitchen, food service and preparation areas,  an outdoor shower, pool equipment room and more.

The extra floors exceed height limits negotiated by the Brooklyn Heights Association and preservationist Otis Pearsall, among others, in 2005, the group says.

A Brooklyn judge in September dismissed the case, however. STVN plans an appeal.

STVN said in a release, “A liquor license is a privilege and not a right. It should only be given to entities that demonstrate they operate as good citizens in the community. Starwood is a 50-50 partner with Toll Brothers in the construction of the oversized Pierhouse. They have purposely ignored the promises made to this community in 2005 to protect the views of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Promenade so that they can earn over $100 million in excess profits. They should not be further rewarded by the granting of a liquor license.”

The Brooklyn Eagle has reached out to Starwood for comment.

The park says that the developers have complied with all New York City zoning laws and have been transparent about the height of the development since it was planned in 2005.

The State Liquor Authority (SLA) says on their website, “While not binding on the members of the Authority, the SLA considers input from community boards in all licensing decisions.”

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