Valet parking could smooth path for new restaurant
The Board of Zoning and Appeals tonight approved a parking variance request that could help clear the way for the addition of another restaurant to the 15600 block of Detroit Ave., between Merry Arts Pub and Grille and Route 6 (formerly Niko’s), as soon as January 2010.
Project architect Charles A. McGettrick, representing Arberia LLC, owner of the building at 15613 Detroit Ave., said his client was close to signing an agreement with a nearby church that would provide 26 valet parking spots — half of the 52 offstreet parking spots that are required by Lakewood’s zoning code. One offstreet parking spot is required for every four restaurant seats.
The municipal parking lot behind the building has a total of 40 spots, but 10 slots are leased to the federal government for military recruiters and are occupied 24×7. The city has already given notice that the agreement will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the year.
McGettrick said Arberia LCC, controlled by Kujtim Dauti of E.47th, paid $210,000 cash for the building, has no mortgage and is very determined to proceed with the project.
The owner of Merry Arts Pub and Grille objected to McGettrick’s request. “We have big concerns about this going in,” he said. He said he has been going back and forth with the city regarding the issue. His number one concern was that there wouldn’t be enough parking to serve all three businesses. When Niko’s reopened as Bar 2 “parking was a big, big concern,” he said. Now with Route 6 ready to come to life, his worries remain.
The proprietor was also unhappy because the city played hardball with parking spot requirements a few years ago when he wanted to take over an adjacent laundry mat and expand Merry Arts, relenting only when he involved his lawyer in the situation. In addition, he felt slighted when the city, in his view, was lax in enforcing the offstreet parking spot-to-seat ratio with Bar 2 – a place that became a “nightmare” for the area.
When all three businesses are open, he fears potential Merry Arts patrons will become frustrated by the filled-to-capacity parking lot and visit a competitor instead. “It’s going to kill the business,” he said.
The board listened to his concerns, but approved McGettrick’s variance request. The valet parking proposed by McGettrick will be free of cost to customers of his client’s restaurant. He didn’t mention what kind of restaurant it will be, but said there was a lot of work to be done. “It’s a disaster on the inside,” he said.
As a side note, I checked out the parking lot after the meeting and understand why the Merry Arts guy is concerned. It was around 7:45 p.m. and the parking lot was at capacity — and Route 6 wasn’t even open. It’s going to be a zoo when all three businesses are open at the same time — valet or no valet.
Board says garages must be replaced
In Lakewood, if you tear down your garage, you must replace it with another garage. It’s an easy concept — unless you’re broke. Two different homeowners appeared before the board seeking permission to postpone garage construction for a one year period. The board has magnanimously handed extensions out to several homeowners recently. But these particular residents had already been given one-year passes and were seeking an additional one-year extension.
Karen Romeser, of 1336 St. Charles, and Linda Korth, of 1437 Maile, each cited financial difficulties as the reason they could not rebuild their garages.
I saw Korth in Judge Carroll’s housing court several weeks ago. She caught my attention because unlike many of the people I observed in her situation, she didn’t seem to be everything thing in her capability to improve her situation.
The judge was deservedly beating up on her for not clearing out the debris from her yard (someone called the prosecutor’s office and anonymously complained about the appearance of her property, too). She wasn’t even cutting her own lawn; her neighbor was doing it for her. She had excuses for almost everything and an unhelpful flippant sort of attitude. She applied to the board for a second extension at the request of the judge.
The board explained the rules prohibited them from taking the quality of someone’s financial situation into account when rendering a decision. Korth was a bit bewildered when her appeal was declined, sending her fate back into the hands of the judge. Her house is currently in foreclosure and she’s been out of work for a year and a half.
St. Charles resident Karen Romeser’s appeal was also denied. She said she’s twice avoided foreclosure in the last year and is working seven days a week to try and stay afloat. She explained she’s got some building materials for the garage, but needs several more months before she’ll be in a position to get something built.
The city’s residential housing guru noted Romeser had been in housing court for other issues in the past, and successfully corrected violations. He said the city originally issued a garage demolition permit in 1991, but “dropped the ball” and didn’t follow-up for more than ten years.
One board member inquired if Romeser was living in the house. She acknowledged much of her time was being spent with an ailing relative, but she did still live in the house. “It is what it is,” she said right before the board issued their denial.
Central air units approved for Warren Rd. duplex.
Owners Joseph and Bonnie Kunzelman, property owners, received a variance of three feet and eight inches to put two air conditioners on the south side of their yard.
Joseph said the house was built more than 60 years ago by his wife’s grandfather. They recently put $20,000 in improvements into it and were in the process of signing a lease for one of the houses two units.
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