Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Downstairs
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 22, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 22, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The NY Times City section looked at a fight between East Village bar Heathers on 13th Street and its neighbors, and we took away two things.
First, there's a lot about how Heathers owner Heather Millstone and her upstairs neighbors Frank Hartin and Wai-Shing Lee are dealing with each other. Hartin and Lee find the bar so noisy the DEP and police regularly visit to monitor the situation - and they bought a $1,100 sound meter.
Millstone finds their complaints difficult as she's trying to address their concerns by soundproofing the space and having a bouncer tell people to be quiet. Various city agencies raided Heathers but only ended up citing a health code violations for fruit flies, while Hartin and Lee put up with a "constant drone." And though they are trying to move forward, the situation seems pretty much the status quo with no one happy.
Then there's how Community Board 3 considered Heathers' liquor license. CB3 subcommittee chairwoman Alexandra Militano and Board 3 district manager Susan Stetzer say that Millstone's application was "completely heard" but denied because they didn't think offering gluten-free alcohol was considered "public benefit for the community." (In order for bars to get a liquor license when there are three other bars within 500 feet is to claim there is a public benefit.)
Still, the State Liquor Authority gave Millstone a permit, which makes you wonder what the point of the community board's decision in the first place, though the Times says CB3 is very influential (see EU). Heathers' license is up for renewal this fall, and with the recent crackdown on bar establishments, we don't think things are looking good.
Tagged
alcohol
bar
bars
city
community
community board
District
east village
health
News: NYC
ny times
NY Times City
people
police
state liquor authority
The NY
the ny times
Times City
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx man indicted for murder in fatal bodega shooting
Prosecutors say Jesus Acosta shot and killed Tayvon Shuler, then robbed the East 149th Street store last month.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 29, 2026 at 7:44 p.m. ET
Mamdani must redo his pied-à-terre tax rollout, NY judge orders
A Staten Island judge ruled against the city in a lawsuit challenging the rollout of the new tax, a day after a billionaire casino mogul sued to invalidate it.
By
David Brand
News
Mamdani must redo his pied-à-terre tax rollout, NY judge orders
A Staten Island judge ruled against the city in a lawsuit challenging the rollout of the new tax, a day after a billionaire casino mogul sued to invalidate it.
By
David Brand
NYC eyes higher fines for owners of dirty vacant lots, abandoned construction sites
By
Liam Quigley
NJ Gov. Sherrill vetoes 2 bills meant to give strapped Jersey City more revenue tools
By
Michael Sol Warren
Brooklyn residents displaced after facade falls off neighboring building amid nor'easter
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .