La Marina, the controversial Parks Department concession located on Dyckman St. along the Hudson River waterfront in upper Manhattan was the scene of a shooting late Sunday evening. A 27-year-old security guard was shot in the neck after breaking up a fight inside the club.
Critics of the concession argue that what was intended to be a public access restaurant, cafe and marina has become in large part a private access nightclub and concert venue running until 1 am. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.
Manhattan
By Geoffrey Croft
La Marina security guard Andre Obert was shot braking up a fight inside the club.
Critics argue that the Parks Department has allowed the concession to operate dramatically differently from what was initially presented to the public and charge that La Marina has consistently operated in violation of its License Agreement.
Version of photo with caption that has been making the rounds on Inwood FaceBook pages which speaks to the level of frustration some community members feel regarding the lack of interest from thier local politicians in working towards solving the problems caused by La Marina as a nightclub.
A 27-year-old was shot once in the neck at the La Marina club in Inwood just before midnight after a dispute broke out NYC Park Advocates has learned.
According to the police the victim was removed, via EMS, to St Luke’s Hospital in stable condition, and not likely to die.
The suspect is described as a black male wearing black clothes and a gold chain.
The suspect is described as a black male wearing black clothes and a gold chain.
DNAinfo notes that La Marina is supposed to close at 11 p.m. from Sunday through Wednesday, according to a 2009 agreement between the club's operators and the Parks Department, which owns the land where the venue is located.
However, photos and video from inside the club showed patrons still drinking inside after police responded to the 11:45 p.m incident.
The controversial Parks Department concession, located on Dyckman St. along the waterfront in upper Manhattan, has been a source of contention among neighborhood residents.
The concession has operated since July 2012 by the Manhattan River Group LLC and owned by Fernando Mateo, Jerald Tenenbaum, Joshua Rosen and Alain Chevreux. Chris Villano's ownership has been bought out.
Mateo, the former head of the state Federation of Taxi Drivers was accused in a 2013 lawsuit that he improperly paid himself $500, 000 during the outdoor lounge’s off-season, “obliterated employee morale” and created a “hostile environment” at the lounge.
Community residents have complained about the parkland use, capacity, operating hours, noise, parking/traffic, and public access to areas of the waterfront.
The stage on the beach area at La Marina hosts live events including concerts and DJ shows that attract thousands of people, a use critics argue was never presented to the public before the concession was approved.
Security guard the VIP area of La Marina.
The Gang's All Here. Mayor Bloomberg was joined by La Marina partners and numerous elected officials at the ribbon-cutting on July 20, 2012. (from l) Josh Rosen, Jerald Tennenbaum, Guiermo Linares, Fernando Mateo, Parks Commissioner Adrain Benepe, and local elected officials Adriano Espaillat and Ydanis Rodriguez.
Version of photo with caption that has been making the rounds on Inwood FaceBook pages which speaks to the level of frustration some community members feel regarding the lack of interest from thier local politicians in working towards solving the problems caused by La Marina as a nightclub.
April 17, 2014. Mayor Bill De blasio and wife Chirlane attend a private function at La Marina with numerous upper Manhattan power brokers. (from l) Adriano Espaillat, Mayor de Blasio, La Marina partner Jerald Tannebaum, Charlie Rangel, Fernando Mateo (with mic) Ydanis Rodriguez (with daughter) Chirlane McCray, and La Marina partner Josh Rosen.
Read More:
New York Post - July 14, 2014 - By Kirstan Conley and Jamie Schram
DNAinfo - July 14, 2014 - By Lindsay Armstrong and Trevor Kapp
New York Daily News - By Michael J. Feeney - July 14, 2014
NY Post - December 23, 2013 - By Julia Marsh
Because of all the noise and congestion this facility has brought to the neighborhood, public safety has been in question, not to mention quality of life worsened. It was only a matter of time before something bad happened. It's good the ambulance was able to make its way through. That's not always possible there.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that this incident happened, but sadly people have been afraid something like this would happen for quite some time. The current La Marina as a nightclub with a capacity for 3000 is totally different than the La Marina as a restaurant for 500-600. The NYC Parks Dept. and our elected officials are responsible for this mess. Our Community Board, which is under the thumb of State Senator Adriano Espaillat in particular is also culpable here. Community members warned our Community Board and the owners of La Marina about this, but our warnings fell on deaf ears. Now we have hundreds of cars idling for hours in a community that has one of the largest childhood asthma rates in the United States. This residential community does not have the infrastructure to handle that kind of traffic. Our police resources are already stretched thin as well and now they have to deal with this. And now a shooting. This kind of situation would never be allowed to develop below 96th St, why is it allowed to exist in Inwood?
ReplyDeleteI miss the days when this was Tubby Hook, with a couple of picnic tables, a fryer and a grill and a refrigerator filled with beer bottles. Once could pass an afternoon with a burger and fried and a couple of cold ones in a peaceful park setting.
ReplyDeleteThen it became a different club, which was sut down multiple time amid allegations or drug trafficking, prostitution and violence.
Now it seems this current incarnation is more of the same. This place attracts ridiculous crowds from all over, to a neighborhood ill equipped to handle the surges. Traffic on the West Side Highway is frequently backed up for a mile or more, complete with honking, fights and general danger to pedestrians and families who inhabit the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the shooting seems more inevitable than shocking. I hope it will not require more of the same before something is done about this place and its flagrant disregard for the community it is tarnishing.
The rule of law has been suspended in this part of Inwood since 2012, and the parties responsible are all pictured on this page.
ReplyDeleteHow is this tolerated?
Get some undercover people in there. Open drug use.
ReplyDeleteIT'S OUT OF CONTROL! can somebody explain why a private business is making millions of dollars on public land, while simultaneously breaking the terms of its contract (crowd size, amplification, operating as a nightclub) and causing absolute chaos in a residential neighborhood???? those last two pictures tell you everything you need to know -- local pols care more about GETTING PAID OFF BY FERNANDO MATEO AND HIS CRONIES than they do about the health, well-being and sanity of their constituents. --disgruntled in inwood
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Ritter CB 12 lets thank her for pushing la marina to our community without her relentless afford we wouldn't have this mess
ReplyDeleteThis place seriously need to be close and take mateo with you !
ReplyDeleteA mess from the beginning. This is unfortunate, but not surprising. Most of the Inwood locals stay away from this place. It is not a community friendly place. People come from all around the city to take our parking, leave our streets littered, and cause so much disruption. Drunk people fighting, throwing bottles, urinating in our streets. The subject goes on deaf ears! Why? Aren't our local elected leaders suppose to be on our side, and not on the business side. Makes the community wonder who is getting what from whom....So much going on in this place, it is no secret, yet nothing gets done. Somebody has to look deep into this organization and act promptly, because this shooting, will probably won't be the last. How does somebody with a gun go into the establishment and shoots the security? What kind of responsibility management and owners are going to own up to? They are all hush now with this incident, why? Shouldn't somebody make a statement and speak to the community? They are all about photo opts when they have the politicians pushing their product, come out now and speak. Let the community know what changes, if any you have to make after this shooting. Inwood is fed up!
ReplyDeleteLa Marina takes up valuable NYPD resources every weekend. Uniformed officers from the 34th Precinct control traffic on Henshaw, Dyckman, and surrounding streets for this club instead of actually serving the community. The best part? La Marina doesn't have to pay NYPD to provide this service. That's our responsibility as taxpayers. This place is a blight on our community, and I'm surprised that this is only the first shooting.
ReplyDeleteyup-- and the 34th precinct was already dramatically understaffed to begin with, not to even get into the situation in the parks after dark...
DeleteI can't understand why the Parks Department would ever allow this "concession" to occur - a concession to the deep pocket moneybags is all I can imagine! It's so disheartening... As restaurant like New Leaf Cafe? No problem! As a nightclub expecting 3,000 people (or more) at events? No way!
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE STRESSED OUR CONCERNS TO THE COMMUNITY BOARD/34THPRECINCT AND TO ALL OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE SUPPOSEDLY FOR THE RESIDENTS. ALL OUR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN IN VAIN . IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT LA MARINA AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN A TWO BLOCK RADIUS HAVE PAID OFF OFFICALS TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY. EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT FERNANDO MATEO’s BACKROUND!!!!!!! THERE IS AN OLD SAYING MONEY TALKS BULLSHIT WALKS. I AM SURE THE RESIDENTS FEEL THE SAME AS I DO REGARDING THE NOISE FROM THESE ESTABLISHMENTS/TRAFFIC JAMS/DOUBLE PARKED CARS/FILTH ON OUR SIDEWALKS/ STREETS CAUSING INFESTATION OF RODENTS. WHAT EVER HAPPENED IN REGARD TO THE STIPULATIONS THAT THE OUTDOOR CAFES ARE SUPPOSED TO CLOSE AT A CERTAIN TIME (SUNDAY-THURSDAY 10:00PM FRIDAY/SATURDAY 12:00PM) WHICH WAS SET UP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY BOARD AND THESE PLACES. I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH OUR SO CALLED COMMUNITY BOARD AND THE 34TH PRECINCT WITH THEIR EXCUSES. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED BUT REST ASSURED THERE WILL BE MANY MORE INCIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IF THESE OFFICIALS KEEPING LOOKING THE OTHER WAY.
ReplyDeleteInteresting theory - part of a wider plan?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.batterypark.tv/real-estate/the-pier-a-beer-garden-is-part-of-a-bigger-city-plan-to-turn-waterfront-properties-into-concert-venues.html