Neighbors Sense Something Shady About New Limelight

The business group spearheading what they hope to be the next era of the Limelight—retail—presented its plans to a local community board this week and were met with a great deal of skepticism and suspicion. The Limelight Marketplace group is hoping to put a mini-mall into the onetime church whose eye-catching building along Sixth Avenue in the Chelsea is only eclipsed by the stories of the drug-fueled and freak-filled nights that went on inside its walls during its era as one of clubland meccas of the '80s and early '90s. But instead of being eager to welcome in retail stores to replace the bad reputation of Peter Gatien's club, the Flatiron community board instead came off sounding like Reverend Moore in Footloose, expressing fears that the new plan was a ruse to return to days past. The Board Landmark Chairman recommended rejecting the proposal because he worried that the retail proposal is "one big dodge to get a club going there." He also pointed to a large empty space in the floor plan that would be "perfect for dancing." The development group denied they had any intention of shaking up their plans, only saying about the new space, "There's going to be nothing else like it."

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

By Billy Parker in Arts and Events on September 6, 2009 4:44 PM

Comments [rss]

ANGRYGOD11

The Flatiron community board has little contact with modern NYC realty. Dancing at a place of business requires a license. The money made from a dance club is largely from the bar, which requires a very difficult to get liquor license. It might be easier to start an airport on 6ht Avenue than get all this secretly done.

aprilnyc

Last winter I went in Limelight, there was a sample sale type business in there.

Here is a link to my photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missapril1956/3204130288/

freddynyc

Hey, at least it won't become an NYU dorm....

rcltrh

Excerpt from notes from the meeting of the local community board: ...there might be dancing. And yeah, there might be boys and girls holding hands with their naughty parts engorged and tingling. And pool tables. Yes, and dice and dominos and the 52 card pack of lies too - all the devil's instruments. And what say ye Goody Proctor? I say there might be lusting of the eyes and gluttony from the food court. Sins of the flesh and sins of the heart. All are improper in the eyes of God. We can't let that happen here in New York, city of the Lord! He will rain hellfire and damnation, and sulphury smells will come up from the bowels of the subway. And witches! Yeah. Let's burn the witches! Suffer a witch to die as it says in the good book!

Mr Mel

You forgot to mention the dope.

ides_of_march

In this economy they should be happy anybody even bothers to open a business.

Mr Mel

I was hoping Bed Bath and Beyond was going to use it for their new Vestment Shoppe.

Kojak

Their board must be filled with paranoid old people to think they can suddenly change their plans around like that, but I guess anything is possible.