Over the last few years, she has received complaints from residents about noise coming from the bar late at night and fights or shootings in the parking lot, she said. To Overstreet, Deja Vu Sports Bar and Lounge is the prime example of a nuisance property. I think people would like to see quicker action.” Matzigkeit, who represents a Buckhead district. “We need to do a better job of closing loopholes and enforcing the laws,” said Councilman J.P. Nuisance properties can include bars and lounges, as well as some apartment complexes that are in poor shape and violating city code.ĪPD was not able to release the list of properties “due to the ongoing investigations on these properties and for operational security purposes,” a department spokesman said. In more extreme cases, the city can seek restraining orders to force businesses to close their doors.Ĭurrently, the city has a list of 20 nuisance properties, according to Atlanta police Major Brian Schiffbauer, the code enforcement commander. Investigations can also lead to hearings in front of the city’s License Review Board, which can vote to impose fines or revoke an alcohol license. In some cases, owners or bartenders have been arrested. Much of the enforcement happens behind the scenes - in meetings between city officials, in courtrooms and even through undercover police operations. Explore Atlanta seeks stricter enforcement of restaurants violating liquor laws Just trying to usurp the system,” said Councilwoman Marci Collier Overstreet, whose district includes much of southwest Atlanta.īusinesses that are licensed as restaurants are given exemptions that nightclubs do not receive, and are allowed in some neighborhoods where nightclubs are not. “I’m really frustrated with these restaurants operating as clubs. When Bottoms formed the group, she directly linked nuisance properties to the uptick in homicides and aggravated assaults Atlanta experienced in 2020: “Many of these violent crimes have consistently occurred within or near specific nuisance properties,” an administration order from Bottoms stated.įollowing the rise in crime, elected officials and residents pushed for stronger enforcement against nuisance properties. The effort to punish or even close down the problematic businesses follows new city laws and a nuisance properties working group formed by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in December. Explore Bottoms forms group to address ‘nuisance properties’ in Atlanta
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |