The controversial planned restaurant in Union Square will make headlines again this week now tht New York legislators are calling on Mayor de Blasio to cancel the restaurant's contract. But it turns out this kind of struggle over park and commercial space in nothing new to the city, dating all the way back to the post-Civil War era. Though that land probably wasn't featured on Sex and the City.
The restaurant, planned for a pavilion located north end of the park, was finally given the go-ahead by the New York State Court of Appeals last month. But this saga is never ending, and yesterday elected officials like US Representative Carolyn Maloney, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and State Senators Liz Krueger and Brad Hoylman announced plans for a press conference on Sunday urging de Blasio to can the project. "This community ranks last in the amount of playgrounds in the entire city," a press blast released by the office of Council Member Corey Johnson read. "The concession would displace families, children, and seniors and eliminate one of the county's most historic free speech sites."
And a New York Times article published in today's paper pointed out that park eateries date back to the early days of Central Park; one restaurant, the Central Park Casino, was demolished by Robert Moses in the 1930s because he thought it was too expensive for a public space (a critic alleges Moses tore it down to get revenge on a former mayor). City officials continue to argue that the restaurant/bar—which has been in the works for about a decade—will be adding to a longstanding tradition of pairing restaurants with park space. "We think it’s an amenity that a number of people enjoy,” Robert L. Garafola, deputy commissioner of management and budget for the parks department, told the Times. “In some cases it’s an integral part of the park experience. It can be a relaxing experience with a beautiful view and you get out of the hustle and bustle of the city environment." The restaurant, dubbed Chef Driven Market, will be operated by 5 Napkin Burger restaurateur Simon Oren.
This battle will wage on for eternity, until Godzilla ravages what's left of the East Village at last.
