UPDATED – As the City Planning Commission readies for a hearing on a controversial Supermarket and Cafe in Sheepshead Bay’s historic Lundy’s Building, both Borough President Eric Adams and City Councilman Chaim Deutsch are on the same page.
The Cherry Hill gourmet Food Market & Cafe opened in 2009 at the former Lundy’s Building, 1901 Emmons Avenue, and has pitted longtime residents who want to maintain the antiquated special zoning of that area of Sheepshead Bay as a fishing village against the large influx of Russian-American immigrants who support the market and its nearly 100 employees.
After a protracted fight, Community Board 15 recommended by a 20-2 margin earlier this month approving the text amendment to legalize the market’s use with recommendations such as pursuing their current square footage use of roughly 20,000 square feet. The building currently houses other businesses as well including a Turkish restaurant, a dentist and a beauty parlor.
“We (Adams and him) have almost the same compromise position,” said Deutsch, adding that includes maintaining current parking and that the other businesses in the building are not pushed out by the popular market.
“The borough president feels that there should be a special permit granted with limitations because a time limit would make sure compliance is assured,” said Lew Fidler, Adams community liaison to the area.
The issue comes as a growing number of people in Sheepshead Bay feel it’s time to rezone the 1973-enacted special district that was created in hopes it would spur the water related tourism industry along Emmons Avenue. However, with the influx of Russian-Americans the area now accommodates several residential type uses such as having the 24-hour gourmet Cherry Hill market.
Deutsch and Adams hope to continue an open dialogue with Cherry Hill’s representatives to a compromise that makes sense so it doesn’t infringe on other small businesses and adheres to Cherry Hills business. .
