By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER MANHATTAN — Popular Inwood eatery Il Sole can renew it's liquor license as long as it finds a way to keep down the noise, a Community Board 12 committee said Tuesday night.
In a continued effort to address quality of life concerns stemming from popular eateries on Dyckman Street, Community Board 12's Economic Development Committee voted to recommend the renewal of Il Sole restaurant’s liquor license with the stipulation that it find a way to compromise with community leaders by reducing noise and closing down earlier in the evening.
Il Sole, which sits along the western stretch of Dyckman Street dubbed "Alcohol Alley" by Assemblyman Denny Farrell, is one of several restaurants officials say unnecessarily bother neighbors into the late hours.
Spokesmen from Farrell and City Councilman Robert Jackson's offices urged the community board to withhold support of the license renewal until Il Sole's owner agreed to reach a compromise on outdoor operating hours during the summer, something officials believe will help improve quality of life on Dyckman Street.
"Our objections will be withdrawn the moment the restaurant agrees to the same hours as other restaurants on the block," Frank Hess, special assistant to Farrell, said at the meeting.
Last summer, Farrell and Jackson proposed restaurants operating in the highly residential stretch of Dyckman Street, west of Broadway, should close their summertime outdoor seating an hour earlier, at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Most owners agreed, including those of the popular yet controversial Mamajuana and Papasito restaurants.
Il Sole owner Sandra Jaquez was the exception and said closing early would negatively affect her bottom line.
Although CB12 voted in favor of the restaurant’s sidewalk café license renewal last October, Jackson said he would only support the board’s vote in the City Council if Il Sole complied with proposed changes requested by he and Farrell.
The issue came up again Tuesday night when a representative of Il Sole met with CB12’s Economic Development committee to discuss the restaurant’s liquor license renewal.
The committee voted in support of the renewal as long as Jaquez meets with community officials and comes to a satisfactory agreement before the CB12 full board meeting on January 25.
Christopher Taveras, Il Sole’s assistant general manager, who represented the restaurant at the meeting, said he is certain Jaquez would work with the officials to come to a resolution.
"The last thing we want to do is come into your community and make things uncomfortable," he said.
The final say on the restaurant’s liquor license will come from the State Liquor Authority which has not always aligned itself with community board recommendations.
