Tashmoo Expansion Hearing Set by Morristown Council
Family seeks to build two-story bar and restaurant.
The Morristown Town Council will hold a hearing next month on whether to approve the liquor license for the expansion of Tashmoo on DeHart Street.
The hearing was scheduled for 7 p.m. April 2 after the council received a letter from Christine D. Conti-Collins objecting to the place-to-place transfer of the license. Under state law, the municipality must hold a public hearing on a transfer if the objection is raised.
The Walsh family, which owns Tashmoo and the nearby Dark Horse Lounge and Sona Thirteen, has submitted plans to the town to buy the adjacent property at 10 DeHart Street and construct a two-story bar and restaurant that would be connected to Tashmoo across an alley.
Last year, the council rejected a plan by the Walsh family to build a bowling alley with a rooftop bar at 10 DeHart Street. Neighborhood residents came out in force to oppose that plan and they returned to the council on Tuesday to object to the new plan. Neighbor after neighbor expressed worries about the current parking and traffic situation and said the expansion would worsen the situation.
John Brady, of Colles Avenue, said the numerous bars in the area have resulted in “two Morristowns,” one during the day and the other at night.
Brady’s biggest concern was the lack of parking in the neighborhood and the addition of another bar would exacerbate the problem, disturbing the area’s historic character. Already, Brady said, he and his family are awakened after midnight by noise from “people who have had too much to drink.”
Brady said the council has to maintain a balance between what businesses want to do and residents’ concerns.
Mayor Tim Dougherty said the town’s parking authority is working on a plan to implement parking restrictions that would encourage parking in the DeHart Street Garage instead of on the street. He said an ordinance detailing those restrictions may be introduced in April.
In This article
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Dark Horse Lounge
4 Dehart St, Morristown, NJ -
Sona Thirteen
13 South St, Morristown, NJ
Chris
3:03 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Classic case of NIMBY. People want Morristown to flourish, but they don't want to give Morristown business new opportunities. I mean, what do people expect? They live in the largest "city" in Morris County, but then they complain about too many cars and people. Really???
I think the whole Bowling Alley idea was prob one of the best ideas for Morristown. All there is to do here is to go to a restaurant or grab a drink. Other than that, Morristown has NOTHING for people to do.
Chris
3:08 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Parking problems: Why don't they just have the parking spots on and around DeHart Residential Permit only parking at night. People would be forced to use the garage.
However, I can assure you that the "people who have had too much to drink" aren't the ones parking to go to the bar. Their are also tons of people who live here and walk to the bars, too.
Matt S
3:13 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I would rather have the bowling alley/bar then just a 2 story bar
Hank
4:37 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Maybe Spring Brook Country Club could extend their bar hours. Tashmoo wouldn't have to get so crowded later in the evening...
Gobsmacked
2:11 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
How silly is that? As if your country club and Tashmoo are the only places to go in Morristown. Kindly get over yourself Hank!
BiggDogg
4:40 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I agree on the bowling alley over a 2 story bar as well. and there are more things then just bars and eating to do in Morristown. the many parks, Hiking trails, Museum, Washington's Headquarters, the Theater, etc.. We live smack in the middle of some of the most historic parks in NJ. Yes we need more diversity in our downtown shopping area but don't say that Morristown has nothing to offer other than bars and food.
Chris
4:51 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
BiggDogg, you are absolutely correct. Hiking, parks/historical sites or just plain walking around town are all wonderfully fun things to do by day.
But, what about things to do at night (other than restaurant/bar's)?
Gobsmacked
2:04 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Well, Chris, perhaps commingling would be a worthy nighttime pursuit; that, and canoodling. Otherwise, onanism is a possibility.
DeHart PigSty
5:10 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
While I get flustered as a neighbor to DeHart to see the mess some mornings (beer caps, bottles, cigarette butts, discarded clothing -yup), I feel that the neighbors should not control how the town develops. There's the same problem in Soho and Williamsburg in New York - people feel they have the right as 'neighbors' to control how the urban fabric develops. If we are believers in a free market society, then this is BS pure and simple: it's social control. Let the Walsh's build a bowling alley or a bar for Chrissake. If the neighbors had their say 20 years ago Morristown would have faded off the map.
Chris
9:34 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Well, that should be the responsibility of the bar owners. If they can't control their crowds/smokers outside and they make a mess of the street, then the bar should clean it up. If they don't, then the bar should be fined. Just like they have a responsibility to not serve drunk patrons, they have a responsibility to keep the public area's that they share with the rest of the town clean.
Money talks.. throw a few fines their way, and the place will be cleaned up in no time.
homebuyer
6:57 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
I currently rent in Morristown and am looking to purchase a home in Morristown. I can not believe the BS in denying the bowling alley because of Dehart St. being overly congested, yet the council quickly approved an expansion of other local liquor license. Dehart St. also has a 5 to 7 story building to be built on the vacant lot by the parking lot, I wonder if the council or neighbors will fight that as well. I would have preferred a bowling alley over another bar/restaurant but believe that they have a right expand there business in an acceptable commercial zone. It would be ridiculous to now stop a business from expanding in downtown Morristown. Hey town council, you blew it, you let a few whiners from Community Place and an ethically challenged attorney ruin it for the rest us..................
Rían
9:15 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
A bowling alley would be nice to have in town somewhere, but not on DeHart, that street is too small, as is the lot. Another multi-level bar, eh, I don't know. My bigger problem is why would the Walshes need to tear down the building that is already there. It was just moved there a few years ago and restored. It fits into the fabric of the neighborhood well. It was moved from Pine across from Dublin because of the slight historic nature of the building.
BiggDogg
9:16 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Chris,
What isn't there to do at night? you can go see a movie, go see a band play. In the spring through fall the ice cream stores stay open late so you can walk to them with the family. The green always has some sort of thing going on in the spring/summer nights. I myself like to relax in my yard around the fire pit at night when the weather allows.
Chris
9:54 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Again, all good suggestions. And I agree with you, my fav is relaxing at home with friends around a fire pit, too.
I guess what I was trying to say, is that a little diversity is good. Yeah, we have a bunch of bars and restaurants and other places to eat, but having a bowling alley in town is nothing like anything else that's here. I know people have objections to it, but I think the reasons are selfish as it will inconvenience a small few (for reasons that don't even make sense) and they aren't thinking of the good of the town as a whole.
Obviously, there are quite a few others out there who would like a bowling alley, too.
Cathy
9:27 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Where is the 'expansion of a liquor license' going to end? Can I now buy one license and have unlimited space to expand it? And where do you draw the line, attached buildings, then I can take over a whole block on one liquor license? The Town Council has to start reigning in these licenses!
AJ
2:32 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
i agree to diversity and would love a more diverse shopping experience.ie store for men, outdoor store, snowboard shop..but a bowling alley with 3 lanes and a bar is really a bar with 3 bowling lanes..youre not bringing kids there on a sunday for party...the walshes are good at bars,food, drinks and themes surrounding that
BiggDogg
4:17 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Chris and AJ,
yeah a bowling alley would have been great but everyone knew the real intentions the Walsh family had for it. which is clear as day now since they aren't trying to fight for the bowling alley but now take the place to expand their bar. The reality of a bowling alley causing a bunch of traffic is absurd, look at Madison Lanes, That doesn't cause a commuter headache.
Doug
4:24 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
The bowling ally bar was a great idea. Most residences that live by south street have moved to that specific area because of the proximity to places to go out too. I'd wish some these banks would move to allow more shopping, restaurants and bars.
Shooter McGavin
4:31 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
I am all for the capitalism and progress, but another bar with $9 hamburgers isn't what Morristown needs. Walsh's model is getting old. If its such a great idea, why doesnt he do this in Madison where he lives? Madison Lanes could use a sprucing too! Oh, b/c its a real bowling alley and not a disguise to ply more 20-somethings with booze.
debbie
1:38 pm on Monday, April 1, 2013
I am 100% against tearing that building down. Are you kdding? We stood and watched the streets be shut down and traffic stopped to move the "historic" building from across the street from Dublin Pub ..... so that it would be preserved because it's on the Historic Registry ... and now you want to rip it down? Build your bar on some other street.