Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced on Aug. 15 that Sushi Samba, the restaurant on Seventh Ave. S. at Barrow St., has agreed to withdraw its application to renew an expiring sidewalk cafe permit. Quinn said she requested that the establishment rescind its application following years of resistance over removing an illegal rooftop structure and failure to address neighborhood concerns.
Despite lawsuits, Sushi Samba has frustrated Quinn and residents by maintaining a rooftop structure that is directly below residents’ windows in the adjacent building. The tents were erected without the approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, despite the fact that the location is in the Greenwich Village Historic District. The restaurant has fought the matter in court. A September hearing will determine the fines Sushi Samba owes.
Along with the problems with the rooftop structure, Sushi Samba has also failed to address longstanding community concerns regarding noise, garbage and fire safety, Quinn said.
As of Aug. 19, the rooftop’s white, tentlike covering had been removed. A contractor has been hired to remove the steel parabolic arches of the frame and is in the process of obtaining the proper permits for this work, Quinn said.
“After years of being a discourteous neighbor, I am hopeful that this shows a fundamental shift in how Sushi Samba does business,” Quinn said in a press release. “My office hopes to work through other outstanding community concerns with the establishment’s management and neighborhood leaders.”
