A proposal to convert a vacant movie theater into one of thelargest clubs in Boston drew strong opposition yesterday fromelected officials and the residents of a luxury apartment andcondominium building across the street.
'I think this concept is very ill-conceived,' said Rep.Salvatore F. DiMasi (D-Boston) at a hearing yesterday before theBoston Licensing Board to determine if a liquor license should begranted to Texas developer Michael Graves.
Graves is seeking to convert the former Pi Alley Theater at275 Washington St. into the Boston Arena Sports Grille. The clubwould feature 18 television monitors and a large boxing ring thatwould be used as a dance floor. It would have capacity for 975persons. Graves operates a similar bar in Baltimore.
But the project has been met with opposition from most of theresidents of One Devonshire Place, across the street from thetheater, which has been empty since August 1987. About 1,000 peoplelive in the luxury high-rise.
Residents as well as some business leaders fear increasedtraffic, noise and rowdiness from the large crowds the bar would beexpected to attract.
'I don't like the idea of our neighborhood being inundatedwith a large number of people,' said Jinx Richmond, who lives inOne Devonshire Place.
But Terrence P. McDermott, a lawyer representing Graves, saidthe developers have taken fears about congestion and noise intoaccount. He said 400 parking spaces would be available to customersat a garage next door and patrons leaving the bar would be directedaway from the high-rise toward Tremont Street.
McDermott also said announcements would be made inside the barreminding patrons there are residents in the area and to keep noiseto a minimum when they leave. A security staff of 36 would work tokeep disruptions to a minimum, he said.
Graves plans to live in One Devonshire Place and 'will be onsite and available,' McDermott said.
Graves acknowledged problems would exist. 'We're not going totell you that we're going to alleviate every noise anddisturbance,' he told Andrea Gargiulo, chairman of the licensingboard. But, he added, 'I think I've tried to do everything I can tolisten to the residents and answer their concerns.'
In arguing for the liquor license, McDermott said the emptytheater has been an eyesore since USA Cinemas vacated the11,000-square foot complex last year. He said the proposal for abar has received support from merchants adjacent to the vacanttheater.
'I don't think any of us in the city are proud of the vacanttheater,' he said. 'Unfortunately some of the homeless have takento laying in the doorway. Pi Alley is not really people-friendly.'
He also said the sports bar in Baltimore has operated in asimilar downtown neighborhood without any major complaints orproblems. And he said the same problems would exist no matter whatis built inside the empty theater.
But DiMasi, who represents residents in One Devonshire Place,disagreed.
'We're not like other cities,' DiMasi said. 'We don't havewide open spaces. We're a very congested city. This will simplycreate new problems and exacerbate existing ones.'
Although the bar would have a maximum capacity of 975 people,DiMasi said on some nights as many as 3,000 could visit the club.
Referring to McDermott's citing of the homeless sleeping infront of the former theater, DiMasi said, 'If you're suggestingthat three or four homeless people are more dangerous than 3,000or 4,000 bar patrons, I would disagree.'
'I consider this an amusement park,' DiMasi added. 'There willbe people watching sports events and people watching sports tend toget riled up. There will be people drinking all night and thenleaving the bar.'
Some residents said the bar would be inappropriate in aneighborhood with historical sites, such as Faneuil Hall, Old CityHall, King's Chapel and the Old South Meeting House. 'I'd rathersee somthing more in keeping with the ambiance of the area,' saidone resident.
A lawyer representing the owners of Devonshire Place, who areopposed to the project, said the notion of a bar would not havebeen taken seriously if it had been proposed for more typicallyresidential neighborhoods. Devonshire Place, which is next door toOne Devonshire Place, houses business offices.
'If you had wanted to put something like this in the North Endwe wouldn't even be thinking about it,' said lawyer MichaelRoitman. 'But if you spread the 1,000 people horizontally insteadof vertically you'd have a similar situation.'
The Licensing Board is not expected to make a decision untilJanuary. Graves is also seeking an entertainment license from theMayor's Office of Consumer Affairs. RIBADE;11/30 NKELLY;12/01,14:23 CLUB01
