Chelsea Now photo by Jefferson Siegel
On Sat. Jan. 6, police closed Crobar and posted copies of the court order and various restraining orders on its gates, banning the removal of property from the premises, as well as “sale and possession of marijuana” and “illegal activity,” among others.

After closure,dance clubs will reopen, be monitored

By Albert Amateau

The New York Police Department’s legal bureau secured a court order last week and closed two West Chelsea clubs with a combined capacity of 3,665 patrons on Friday night Jan. 6 under the city’s Nuisance Abatement Law.

But by Wed., Jan. 10, attorneys for the Police Department and the clubs had worked out an agreement on operating conditions allowing the club to reopen on Friday night, Jan. 12.

“There was no admission that the clubs did anything wrong,” said Robert Bookman, of Bookman and Pesetsky, representing the New York Nightlife Association. “We could have come to the same agreement without the closings if police had told us they’d go to court unless we agreed to the conditions. But it seems to be the current city policy to close every large club at least once,” Bookman said. “If police paid as much attention to dorms at New York University and Columbia, they’d get shut down as well,” he added.

Shortly after 9 p.m. on Jan. 6, Crobar, at 530 W. 28th St. — along with its satellite club, Pink Elephant, in the rear of the same building — was the first target of police, who were armed with the order signed by State Supreme Court Justice Louis B. York.

An hour later, police went to Sol, the club at 609 W. 29th St, with Justice York’s order and ushered employees and patrons out. During the operation, two Sol employees were arrested for possession of cocaine.

Crobar and Pink Elephant have a combined capacity of 3,000 patrons and Sol can hold 665 revelers.

Captain Stephen Hughes, commander of the 10th Precinct, said Crobar was closed because in the past year it had 15 narcotics violations and 22 State Liquor Authority violations.

“There were nine violent incidents — in July two women were shot in the leg inside the club,” said Hughes.

Sol had seven narcotics violations that resulted in eight arrests during the past year, according to Hughes. The club was also cited for two S.L.A. violations and for having too few security guards on the premises, Hughes said.

The agreement allowing the clubs to reopen, which Justice York approved on Jan. 10, calls for Crobar and Sol to hire independent monitors to make recommendations on violation-free operations. The clubs agreed to follow the monitors’ recommendations and to improve security at the clubs, Bookman said.