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Parties at Washington Ave. Armory on hold
Posted at: 10/23/2012 6:02 PM
| Updated at: 10/23/2012 6:28 PM
By: Beth Wurtmann
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ALBANY - Soon after Derreck VanAltyne, a teenager from Schodack, bought a ticket for Friday night's Masquerave event at the Washington Avenue Armory, he was told the party might not happen.
"They told us to come around and I got a refund and they told us to come back tomorrow to see if it's still going on," he said.
That's because the City of Albany issued a cease and desist, and stop work order at the Armory, barring events entertainment events and nightclub acts. All after a dance event with foam last Thursday led to a disturbance outside among event goers waiting to get in. Seven people were arrested.Three officers injured.
"You have a quality of life issue and a public safety issue for our residents and we're not going to sit back and say, Armory do what you want," said Jeff Jamison, Director, Division of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance.
Jamison said the Armory isn't zoned for nightclub acts in its special use permit, and needs a cabaret license to hold them. But promoters at the venue said their events qualify as concerts.
"We have performers we sell our tickets through a professional box office and online ticketing outlets and we bring thousands of people out. Night clubs just don't do that," said Michael Cort, Armory spokesman.
The Armory also made changes to ticketing and entry procedures following Thursday's arrests to try and ensure public safety. But Albany's Mayor said it's not enough.
"We don't want to prevent them from having parties but if they're going to have them. They're not going to be like the other night. not something we have to worry about. so we'll ask them to partner with us if they do we'll be fine," Jerry Jennings said.
Cort said the Armory has applied for a cabaret license, and hopes to work things out with the City so its events this weekend and beyond don't have to be canceled.
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