Stop Work Order at Lundy’s Site Halts ‘Cherry Hill’

Part of the floor plan devoted to a new, 400-seat restaurant inside the historic Lundy’s space in Sheepshead Bay is what developers are calling an “ancillary use” gourmet foods market. The controversial Cherry Hill Market, the Buildings Department contends, is actually just a grocery store by another name.

Last week, an ‘eleventh hour’ stop work order was issued for the “98% of work completed” site, specifically because grocery stores are not allowed to exist within the Sheepshead Bay Special District, a 20-block waterfront parcel on Emmons Avenue where Lundy’s has stood for 75 years.

Cherry Hill Market was scheduled to open this week. Use of the Lundy’s building—and by extension, its legacy—has seemingly divided the opinions of the Sheepshead Bay community. Some contend that Cherry Hill opponents are delaying the creation of sorely needed new jobs for the area, and that job creation trumps preservation.

Others still question the nature and timing of the stop work order, which coincided with a photo op with State Senator Carl Kruger outside of the old Lundy’s space; the ad hoc press conference and shutdown took place on Good Friday and Passover. Can anyone in Sheepshead Bay area give us their take on the Cherry Hill controversy?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Hugh Merwin in Food on April 14, 2009 3:42 PM

Comments [rss]

Ray at Sheepshead Bites

May 17, 2009 would be a good day for you guys to head on down to Sheepshead Bay to see what's going on for yourself. But, if you can't make it down, check out SheepsheadBites.com to see the latest on this this story and all the important issues that affect to Brooklyn's only bay.

Mr Mel

Someone was expecting a fatter envelope. Jobs don't get stopped a 98% they get stopped at 50%. Your Honor, Mr. Green hasn't made his appearance.

gberardelli

GerritsenBeach.net has done a FANTASTIC job covering this whold debacle from the start. It's clearly selective enforcement and selective representation. How does a state Senator have a press release go out lauding a stop work order that hadn't even been issued to the building yet?!?

GerritsenBeach.net

This is wrong!

Cherry Hill has a signed letter of completion from the DOB. Which means not 98% complete, it means 100% complete it is no longer a work site and no longer in the hands of the DOB.

The letter dated 4/4/09 specifically says it was inspected and everything is in compliance with local laws, rules and regulations.

This is just politics and a test of power.

fugothamist

i was being sarcastic

The Edge

Guess these guys have never heard of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_Hill_Township,_New_Jersey

brandonz

Brooklyn, dude.

fugothamist

where is this, jersey?

JenChungsBaby

You serious? It's called Brooklyn. Find it on a map and look down south. I grew up there. I don't know about Cherry Hill but it sounds like an upscale food market would be a good use for that old Lundy's building, which has been vacant for most of the last 30 years when it wasn't hosting a poor imitation of the original Lundy's restaurant.