Council Speaker Seeks Lasting Public-Access Rules for City-Owned Plaza by Guastavino’s

What happened

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin has asked the ownership of Guastavino’s to meet on permanent public-access protections for the City-owned plaza beside the venue on East 59th Street. In a letter sent to Louis Rose, chairman of Rose Group Hospitality, Menin requested a clear, durable agreement that would address access to the plaza, on-site signage and security practices.

The Council speaker’s request follows allegations that the private event venue restricted New Yorkers’ access to the space and used it in connection with private events. The City Council release describes the plaza as City-owned and says the City acquired it in 1900 as part of the construction of the Queensboro Bridge.

The key details

According to the release, Guastavino’s removed signs that had restricted public access after public criticism and inquiries from Menin’s office to City agencies. The venue also took steps to clarify that the plaza is open to the public. Menin is seeking assurances that these changes will remain in place rather than being temporary.

The requested discussion would focus on three operational areas: public access, signage and security. The release does not set out proposed terms, a meeting date or a deadline for an agreement.

The plaza has been involved in a dispute over access for years, according to the Council. A recently filed lawsuit alleges that members of the public were repeatedly excluded, that Guastavino’s characterized the area as private property, and that the venue used the plaza with private events. The release also says news reports documented encounters between visitors and private security, including an incident in which an NYPD officer arrested a visitor for trespassing. These are allegations and reported incidents described by the Council; the release does not provide a court ruling on them.

Sean Basinski, identified in the release as a former attorney for Street Vendor Project and a named plaintiff in the lawsuit against Guastavino’s, welcomed Menin’s involvement and said he wants commitments on access to be honored going forward.

Why it matters

The immediate issue is the day-to-day treatment of a City-owned outdoor space next to a private venue. Menin’s stated objective is to remove uncertainty over whether the public may enter and use the plaza, and over how signs or security personnel communicate that status.

A lasting agreement could establish a shared framework between the Council speaker’s office and the venue’s ownership before additional action is pursued. The release does not say that an agreement has been reached or that Guastavino’s has agreed to meet.

The matter also remains connected to pending litigation. Menin is considering an amicus curiae, or friend-of-the-court, brief in that case. The stated purpose would be to clarify the plaza’s City-owned designation and address commitments made through the City’s land-use process.

What to watch

The first near-term question is whether Guastavino’s ownership meets with Menin’s office and whether the parties produce a written or otherwise defined access arrangement. Details to watch include any standards for signs, how security will operate, and how public access will be communicated at the plaza.

Menin has said she wants to determine whether the issue can be resolved without further intervention from her office. If a resolution is not reached, the Council may consider additional action, and the speaker may decide whether to file an amicus brief in the ongoing lawsuit.