Sherif Mabrouk (manager of The Eagle nightclub in Chelsea), New Jersey-based nightclub owner Sergio Polajenko and Akram Qaid (owner of Harlem’s City Fish) proposed to create “the largest gay nightclub on the east coast and the first full nightclub in New York City”. Unfortunately the  Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4) voted unanimously to turn down the embattled proposal for “Club Magnitude.”

BLP members and community representatives bristled at the applicants originally advocated for a 2,500-person club capacity with full rooftop use, immediately igniting concerns from BLP committee members and residents over soundproofing and fire safety egress which then led the applicants to return to the board with a scaled-down plan that would reduce capacity to 750 and reduce rooftop usage to a smoking lounge, Unfortunately comments from owner Polajenko describing the area as an uninhabitable “ghetto” further incensed residents and block association members, who argued that the 11th Avenue stretch already housed many of the area’s residents and should be considered only for further housing development.

“I’m against the 4am seven day close. I’m against this proposal. I’m against adding another liquor license to our neighborhood and I kindly ask CB4 to overturn the  BLP’s endorsement,” said Hell’s Kitchen resident Anita McDonagh, who added that Club Magnitude’s new soundproofing test was inadequate and not submitted for public review. “I’ve lived through Sound Factory and Pacha,” said Hell’s Kitchen resident Thomas Schall, referencing previous large-scale clubs that operated in the area, “and I’ve known the horrible effects that it’s had in the neighborhood — let’s not do this.”  

Neither the owners nor their legal representative spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, but one of the group’s representatives, BOND real estate salesperson Bruno Reljic appeared at the meeting to reiterate their team’s previous defense of the plan. “I will mention the good reason why this club should be open is because when you’re passing through there, not going, I don’t wanna say it’s ghetto, but there is no action at all.— I don’t see people. It’s pretty sketchy to walk there. So I think some businesses like this would just make this area more alive.”

 For now, it appears to be last call for Club Magnitude. 

Is this way the “NEW” New York is going to be?

If you love having fun and are gay that’s great. But not in our neighborhood.

Read the entire convulsed insane story HERE