NEW YORK (AP) -- A civil court judge ruled Wednesday that the landmark punk club CBGB's can't be evicted from its Bowery location, saying it shouldn't
be punished for not noticing it owed its landlord money.
The ruling was a victory for the club where groups like the Ramones and Blondie defined the punk scene in the 1970s, but CBGB's future is still
uncertain.
Its lease with the Bowery Residents' Committee expires on August 31, and a renewal remains up in the air.
The executive director of the Bowery Residents' Committee, Muzzy Rosenblatt, said he had not seen the ruling so he could not comment on it.
"All we're looking for is a responsible tenant," he said of his group, which provides shelter for homeless people in the building that houses the
club.
The dispute involved about $100,000 in rent increases, interest and fees. The club says the increases went unpaid for four years because of a
bookkeeping mix-up. CBGB's said it wasn't billed for the increases, but Rosenblatt said the increases were clearly stated in the lease. CBGB's rent is
$19,000 a month.
In her ruling, Judge Joan Kenney praised the club's impact on the neighborhood, which she said was plagued by "destitution, degradation and substance
abuse" when the club opened in 1973.
"CBGB has proven itself worthy of being recognized as a landmark -- a rare achievement for any commercial tenant in the ever diverse and competitive
real estate market of New York City," she wrote in the ruling, a copy of which was provided to The Associated Press by the Save CBGB's Coalition.
"It would be unconscionable for this court to allow petitioner to proceed with its intent to evict CBGB ... because it failed to notice that monies
were outstanding for approximately four years," the judge wrote.
As part of its proposal for a new lease, CBGB's has said it would find a third-party guarantor and would raise money for the committee every year with
benefit concertsDiscipline - 8-11-2005 at 03:51 PM
I hope they can stay open. I've still never been there.crazyfists28 - 8-11-2005 at 05:00 PM
i didnt care that much until i got to go for a show and now i'd love to go back and am glad they have a chance to keep going so lets hope all stays
well with themclevohardcore - 8-12-2005 at 11:02 AM
that is some serious change for rent a monthXnMeX - 8-12-2005 at 11:49 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by clevohardcore
that is some serious change for rent a month
NO SHIT! That is absolutly INSANE! Isn't the place small as it is? $19,000? FUCKSAAAAARS - 8-12-2005 at 04:49 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Discipline
I hope they can stay open. I've still never been there.
same hereDeathByForce - 8-14-2005 at 04:27 AM
yeah, i think they just charge that much.. because they're assholes.joemaconmovies - 8-14-2005 at 05:34 PM
i've never been but as a huge Ramones fan and punk fan in general, the place is a landmark to me in some ways. I'd hate to see it close and have
something else put in there.
