Does Manhattan need a dedicated club district?

Does Manhattan need a dedicated club district?

10 February, 2009 | 6.41AM

• Written by: Christen Reutens
• Filed under: Music News: new york

Club owners behind some of Manhattan’s biggest clubs and lounges have teamed up to present the idea of creating a dedicated nightlife district in Manhattan, much like New Orleans’ Bourbon Street area.

New York City’s nightlife scene has been suffering over the last few years thanks to overzealous attention from authorities and noise complaints, and some feel the only solution is to now earmark a corner of Manhattan where nightclub owners and party people could get on with it, safe in the knowledge that no neighbors or police will be upset.

“We have a problem in the city as everybody wants to go out but nobody wants it in their neighborhood,” said Tony Juliano, owner of the XES Lounge on W24th Street. Juliano and some other members of Manhattan Community Board 4, as well as some individuals from nearby Community Board 5, have identified “common problems” and the creation of a nightlife district is their suggested solution.

The group feels the Garment District, which is served by Penn Station and Times Square transport links, is ideal as the area is primarily commercial and not residential. “The noisy club patrons who empty into the streets in the wee hours wouldn’t create disturbances for neighbors,” argued the group.

John Englebert, owner of the West Chelsea nightclubs Prime and Suzie Wong, is supportive of the plan. “It’s a great idea if the city would zero in and try to keep everything in one nightlife zone,” he said. “That Mardi Gras feeling of bar and club hopping in New York City would be great. It would benefit everyone and it would be easier for the city by keeping and condensing all the drunken trouble that comes along with nightlife to one specific area.”

Of course, a dedicated nightlife district might serve the venues located inside it, but it could also cause future problems for those outside of the borough, particularly new venues seeking licenses.

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