STREET FAIRS, BEER CULTURE LIQUOR LICENSE OK’D BY COMMUNITY BOARD

By Joy Bergmann

Mark your kebabs calendar: Community Board 7 approved the 2016 street fair roster at its Tuesday night meeting.

George Zeppenfeldt-Cestero, co-chair of CB7’s Business & Consumer Issues Committee, said the number of UWS permits was the same as in prior years and that free space would be available to neighborhood non-profits in addition to net proceeds being donated to local charities. The Board is considering modifying how those proceeds get divvied up among sponsoring groups and other organizations. The first 20 percent of fair revenues goes directly to the City; organizers must also pay security and sanitation fees.

“The day after a fair is the cleanest these avenues ever are,” said Board member Andrew Albert, noting that UWS restaurant owners have told him that fairs improve business. “Their best days are festival days and Mother’s Day.”

Local resident Richard Barr expressed exasperation with fair-related traffic issues and homogeneity of offerings, “It’s the same vendors all the time,” he said. “I wish non-profits would think more creatively about fundraising instead of street fairs and souvlaki.”

Fair producer Mort Berkowitz of Mort & Ray said his group had canvassed local merchants in the past, offering free space. Only a handful of merchants accepted.

In other CB7 business:

• Gebhard’s Beer Culture got the go-ahead on its liquor license application, with stipulations that the craft beer emporium and restaurant seeking to open at 228 West 72^nd Street, close by 2am daily, serve food, monitor smokers and install security cameras. Liquor licenses need to get final approval from the state liquor authority.

• Greenmarket/GrowNYC’s year-round Friday market on 97^th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam is permitted to continue its operations through 2016.