Friday, October 2, 2009
News Midtown group's last-ditch effort to derail Gidewon nightclub
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 8:51 PM
"Midtown's future hangs in the balance."
So claims a letter by the Midtown Ponce Security Alliance that urges Mayor Shirley Franklin and the city's License Review Board to deny a liquor license application by nightclub impressario Michael Gidewon.
As you'll recall from our Sept. 7 cover story and other news coverage, the Gidewon family is seeking to open a pair of 10,000-square-foot clubs on Peachtree Street in the shadow of the Loews luxury hotel now under construction and catty-corner from the 1010 Midtown condo tower.
Joined by older brother Alex and three siblings, Gidewon has been the force behind the mega-clubs Vision, Compound and the Velvet Room.Many surrounding neighbors and business owners have loudly denounced the new clubs for weeks now, persuading the Midtown Neighbors' Association and NPU-E to officially oppose them. The final showdown comes Tuesday, Oct. 6, before the License Review Board. If the LRB recommends denial and Franklin confirms that stance, then the Gidewon's only recourse would be a lawsuit — which, I believe would be very difficult to win.
That's why the MPSA has pulled out all the stops in its letter expressing opposition (PDF), of which we'll give you but a taste:
As members of the Midtown community, from residents to investors to business owners, we urge you to continue the vision that has been cultivated for this community and to support the stewards of the community in opposing the liquor licenses for the nightclubs proposed for this critical block along Atlanta’s Peachtree Corridor and allow Midtown to continue its position as a model community for smart growth.
Yes, the boldfacing is theirs. Even more striking than the letter detailing Midtown's evolution over the past few years is the long list of signatories, a heavy-hitting group that includes super-developer Stephen Selig, Cousins CEO Larry Gellerstedt, parking-deck magnate Michael Robison and King & Spalding Managing Partner Mason Stephenson, as well as several local bank and hotel managers.
It had to hurt that even Neil Thall, president of the Four Seasons condo association, signed on, considering that both Alex and Michael Gidewon are resident members.
Tuesday should be very interesting.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Comments (15)
Showing 1-15 of 15
As of this reading, it looks like you hyperlinked the wrong letter. Here is the PDF version of the letter with a number of signatories from the Midtown community. http://www.midtownponce.org/news/stakeholders.pdf
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The RESIDENTS of Midtown should be allowed to shape THEIR neighborhood in any fashion they see fit.
Well said CC. The residents of Midtown are very vocally saying that they don't want this club along with all the businesses, investors, visitors, dog walkers, etc....
I don't see why they have such a problem with a relatively small nightclub venue in midtown. Did they oppose Whiskey Park in the W? Or TAP which is just a block up? As someone who actually was born and raised inside of 285, I must say it really is a shame that Atlanta's nightlife is almost nonexistent anymore. And shame on those trying to stop these gentleman from running a legitimate business. Especially since they are part of the reason that midtown became popular. Back when it was known as crack city I don't remember anyone else bringing in anything remotely positive to midtown or the money they generated in the area.
Is Peachtree in Midtown already being taken over by gentrified, dull suburbanites? What's the problem with the clubs? More tax revenue. More jobs. More night life. More "eyes on the street" to improve safety in the area. IF the owners violate any laws when the clubs open, deal with the problems then, just as the City deals with other law-breakers.
The Midtown Ponce Security Alliance does not speak for the neighborhood. Has the Midtown Neighbors Association has not publicly weighed in on this issue?
nieghbor: the MNA and NPU-E both officially opposed... I live in midtown, very close to the club and I support it, just as I did the opening of Shout, Tap, whiskey park, the crescent clubs, etc... Not all residents of midtown are racist or misplaced surbubanites.... And I find it ironic how a lot of the people opposing the opening are the same people who are outraged with the APD raid of the Eagle. the difference: The eagle is a gay club, Vision was a black club. I just call it how I see it. I have heard from someone who has been inside that the club is beautiful and very well done inside. The owners have done everything reasonable to ease neighbors concerns.
I don't understand what the big deal. The neighborhood has clubs & restaurants. People want to live here because there is something to do within walking distance. Clubgoers will want to eat before they go clubbing, and I think the restaurants nearby would be happy for the business. It's not as if the front-space of the supposed "Midtown Mile" is anywhere near full. Let the club succeed or fail on its own merits.
Anyone who lived in the neighborhood when Vision and Velvet were open remembers the traffic, noise, crime and problems from people who were not going INTO the club, but were cruising and trying to be part of the scene OUTSIDE the club. I went to Vision and Velvet and the INSIDE of the clubs was NOT the problem. Midtown, like Buckhead has changed. It is no longer welcoming to high profile clubs. Comparing this club to Tap and anything at the W is similar to saying that there are parking lots on Peachtree so a junkyard would be ok. They are that different. BTW, those of you trying to make this a racial issue, black people go to Tap and the W, just like white people went to Vision and Velvet. Get over yourselves.
I hear real estate in Suwanee is cheap these days. Its nice and quiet out there. Not a whole lot of those awful black people either.
That's why you tee it up and kick off. You win some and you lose some. Even if I don't like the outcome, the process worked and everyone had their voices heard.
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