The campaign at 38 Gramercy Park North

During 2010–2011, a proposal for a late-night wine bar in the basement of 38 Gramercy Park North raised concerns about the historic residential character of the surrounding blocks.

The campaign drew on the 1831 Indenture and the longstanding residential character it established around Gramercy Park. The Block Association helped neighbors bring preservation concerns into the public review of the proposal.

In January 2011, the New York State Liquor Authority denied the license. Its closing statement acknowledged the neighborhood’s special character and concluded that the proposal would not be in the public interest.