The last time I was on Bryant St. I noticed the for sale/under contract sign was still there on the front of Terry Villa. Does anyone on the list know the status of that sale, who the buyer is, and what their plans are for the business?
From the PLCB website definition of 'nuisance bar':
"If the licensee has by its conduct or record of violation, demonstrated a pattern of activities which is in conflict with the health and safety of the local community during its license term, the PLCB will refuse to renew that license." While that is clearly open to some interpretation, there appears to be a process in place to aggregate and review complaints and make a decsision about whether the establishment poses a problem. Whether that process works well is a different story, however. I'd like to broaden this discussion to the wider issue of renewal on Byrant St. The pace of change is almost undetectable. The brick wall put in around the parking lot of the market did not seem to prompt updates to the facades and has recently acquired grafiti. Debating whether Terry Villa is a nuisance begs the question of wether there is a place for anything other than bars and pizza shops on that street. Howard Degenholtz Harold Love wrote:
I think what a lot of people are failing to acknowledge is that one or even a handful of reports of underage liquor sales may not constitute "nuisance" for everyone. Nuisance is subjective. Some of us might hate litter or noise might be our nuisance. Certainly, underage liquor sales are a serious problem that should be reported, policed and prosecuted. I think it reckless to start fanning the flames to label any business a nuisance if we can't agree on clearly defined criteria. Is a place a nuisance after one underage sale? Or is it two? Do I hear three? We need to proceed with caution before we start hurting business people because they cater to "types" that some people don't like.
Harold
-----Original Message----- From: neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us [mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us] On Behalf Of Clarke Thomas Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 5:04 PM To: Kimberly Adams; marcie@mcgand.com; neighborhood@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us; John.McBurney@city.pittsburgh.pa.us Subject: Re: [Highland Park] Liquor license renewals for Highland Park
Selling alcohol to minors is in a totally different class from blocking joggers on their route. I do not see this as treading in shallow water at all jean thomas
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kimberly Adams" <KAdams@sustainablepittsburgh.org> To: "Brackney, Rashall" <Rashall.Brackney@city.pittsburgh.pa.us>; "Marcie McGuire" <marcie@mcgand.com>; <neighborhood@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us> Cc: "McBurney, John" <John.McBurney@city.pittsburgh.pa.us> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 3:15 PM Subject: RE: [Highland Park] Liquor license renewals for Highland Park
C'mon folks we are treading in shallow water. First of all, since we
are
all judgmental, the word "nuisance" needs to have a criteria attached with it -- otherwise it is a recipe for profiling -- racial or otherwise.
For example, I could call Tazzo D'oro "the coffee bar" a nuisance --
due
to the sidewalk being blocked when I choose to jog my route. But I
won't
because I love having the option of stopping in and having a bold one.
I don't go into any of the bars around here -- or anywhere. I just
don't
want to see anyone's enterprise threatened because we have become a little full of ourselves.
Terra Villa has been in the area long before most of us -- at least
for
the 20 odd years that I've lived in the park. Probably longer than
most
us on this "very cool list.
Thank you.
Kimberly Adams, Communications Manager Sustainable Pittsburgh 425 Sixth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 p: (412) 258-6646 f: (412) 258-6645 kadams@sustainablepittsburgh.org www.sustainablepittsburgh.org Sustainable Pittsburgh is a public-policy advocacy group that links economic prosperity, ecological health and social equity.
Watch for Champions of Sustainability and other upcoming events.
-----Original Message----- From: neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us [mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us] On Behalf Of Brackney, Rashall Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 12:38 PM To: Marcie McGuire; neighborhood@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us Cc: McBurney, John Subject: RE: [Highland Park] Liquor license renewals for Highland Park
If Terry Villa has a reputation in the community for inappropriate or illegal alcohol sales, they can be added to the Nuisance Bar Task
Force.
But like Mrs. McGuire indicated reports need to be made. I can have
the
Task Force look at the Villa, and determine what additional steps we need to take to address the problem, but indeed the first step is reporting.
RaShall M. Brackney, Commander Zone Five Station Penn Circle West and Ansley Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206 (412) 665-3605
-----Original Message----- From: neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us [mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us] On Behalf Of
Marcie
McGuire Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 12:05 PM To: neighborhood@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us Subject: [Highland Park] Liquor license renewals for Highland Park
Dear Highland Park Neighbors:
This email is in response to Bob Staresinic's request to contact Jim Ferlo and Joe Preston's offices regarding the renewal of liquor
licenses
for Highland Park establishments.
My teenage son and his friends have purchased beer from Terry Villa on two occasions (I'm sure it has happened more). Both times my son had
his
car and came home drunk! As his parents, we have taken care of the drinking and driving issue with our son, however, the issue with Terry Villa is more difficult.
When I found out that Terry Villa was the source for my son and his friends, I called 911 to issue a report about the restaurant selling alcohol to minors (even the 911 dispatcher knew of Terry Villa's reputation and he's not from the East End). A police officer came to
our
house, took the report, but said there was nothing they could do about this establishment.
Long story short, I contacted the State Highway Patrol Liquor Control Enforcement Division and spoke to Officer McNair. Officer McNair went
to
Terry Villa under survelience, but did not catch them selling beer to minor's on the two or three visits she made there. Officer McNair also reported Terry Villa to the narcotics division for suspected drug activity.
I can't possibly be the only parent of a teenager from Highland Park
who
has had this problem with Terry Villa. I'm sure you have all heard things about this place. And yet, for many years, they have managed to slip under the radar. I just don't get why they haven't been shut
down.
Please, if you or someone you know has had a similiar experience with Terry Villa, or if you are aware of such things going on there, I urge you to contact Jim Ferlo and Joe Preston and request that the liquor license of Terry Villa not be renewed. However, as Bob said, it has to be done this week.
I also urge you to contact Officer McNair at 412.548.2026. She is in
the
field most of the time, so you'll have to leave a voice mail with your concerns. It takes a while, but she will get back to you.
The more we report Terry Villa to those who can do something, the
better
our chances will be of keeping illegal beer (and possibly drug) sales out of our neighborhood. After all, our kid's lives are at stake.
Marcie McGuire
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