By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Community Board 12 voted against a liquor license application this week after the owner of a sports bar went back on an agreement to scale back her operating hours and the kind of alcohol she could sell.
The agreement was initially hammered out at the board's economic development committee meeting on June 7 when police and residents said the area could not sustain another liquor license.
La Esperanza Sports Bar owner Alejandra Lopez had originally agreed to close the bar at at 2372 Amsterdam Ave. at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. She also said she would only sell wine and beer for the first six months after opening, in order to prove the restaurant could be a good neighbor.
"This is a family oriented restaurant that only houses 30 chairs and five seats at the bar," said a spokeswoman for the owner, who does not speak English. "This is not a restaurant that can promote large amounts of noise and delinquencies."
The spokeswoman went on to rescind the agreement, stating the restaurant needed the booze in order to serve her "Spanish food menu," because many recipes rely on liquor.
CB12 member Zead Ramadan rejected that idea Tuesday night, stating that a liquor license is meant for selling alcohol to drink, not eat.
"I've worked with the [State Liquor Authority] for years and have never heard anything like that," he said.
Alejandra Lopez had agreed to scale back her request after police said they would not support her application, because of existing problems with crime, noise and traffic congestion in the area.
"We have concerns about this location," said Capt. Brian Mullen of the 33rd Precinct said during CB12's economic development committee meeting on June 7. "This is a very busy thoroughfare with a lot of noise complaints as is."
Roughly 15 people came out in support of the restaurant, saying that the owner will be a positive force in the neighborhood.
"I don't think the restaurant is going to do any harm to the community," said restaurant supporter and Washington Heights resident Vilma Mota. "We want them to open."
Despite the support at the general meeting, several residents upstairs from the would-be bar turned up at the meeting to repeat their concerns about the establishment.
"Any place that is operating an alcohol based sports club is not an appropriate environment for my children to grow up in," said one resident who said he lives next door to the proposed bar.
Although the board voted against the license application, the State Liquor Authority will make the final decision, as community boards serves in an advisory role.
