New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin has threatened to have the city join a lawsuit against the operators of the Guastavino's event venue for allegedly illegally claiming a public plaza under the Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge as its own for the past decade.
In a Sept. 3 letter to Louis Rose, chairman of Rose Group Hospitality, which operates Guastavino's, Menin stated, "We must ensure that this public space remains genuinely accessible to all New Yorkers and that the legal commitments governing this space are enforced."
A lawsuit filed recently alleges that Guastavino's has repeatedly excluded the public from the plaza, which is intended as a public seating area, while charging clients up to $300,000 for private events. The plaza is part of a parcel of land acquired in 1900 for the bridge's construction.
The suit further claims that the venue's management has used deceptive signs, security guards, and sometimes local law enforcement to block public access to the space. The plaintiffs, identified as a Brooklyn mentalist, a Manhattan graduate, and a veterinary technician, are seeking a judicial declaration that the plaza is public land and that the venue surrender any profits gained from its alleged misuse.
Menin, who represents the Manhattan district surrounding the bridge, has requested a meeting with the leadership of Rose Group/Guastavino's. She indicated that the Council is considering filing an amicus curiae brief in support of the lawsuit if the dispute is not resolved. The amicus brief would address the alleged failure to maintain a public plaza associated with city-owned property and the integrity of commitments made during the city's land use and disposition processes.
"Given the history of this site and the Council’s role in the City’s land use process, it is important that there be a clear and durable understanding regarding the plaza’s future operation, including public access, signage, and security practices," Menin wrote.
Guastavino's/The Rose Group has not yet commented directly to The Post. However, the venue recently acknowledged to amNY.com that "this is a public plaza" and stated that it is working with the city to "come up with a path forward."
The venue, located at 409 E 59th St in Manhattan, is situated beneath the iconic Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge, which connects Manhattan and Queens.