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Taco place with 2 a.m. closing time approved in the Fenway over opposition of neighborhood association

The Boston Licensing Board today approved plans for a Bartaco at 100 Van Ness St. in the Fenway, with indoor hours until 2 a.m. and seasonal-patio hours until 11 p.m.

The taco place, which already has a restaurant in Fort Point, is buying the liquor license of the Hard Rock Cafe.

The Fenway Civic Association opposed the proposal, saying enough with 2 a.m. closings, that it was concerned about the volume of music emanating into the neighborhood and that people might be able to get a drink on the patio without having to also buy food.

But at a hearing yesterday, board Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce said she already knew of three nearby restaurants with 2 a.m. closing time: Tasty Burger, Wahlburgers and the Yardhouse. And a requirement that patrons buy food to go with drinks is a relic of a bygone era, one the current board no longer demands, she said.

In March, the board also rejected a request from the association that it not allow a Japanese restaurant on Boylston Street stay open until 2 a.m. so nearby residents would not be woken up by patrons.

As it approved the license, the board also requested that Bartaco notify it when it begins to allow pickups by third-party delivery services, so that BTD can figure out options for such pickups that do not cause additional traffic issues in the already congested neighborhood.

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Comments

I hear that NIMBY tears make a great taco seasoning, lol. But it's nice to be able to gloat a bit that things are moving the right direction.

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The way to deal with noise is to address it when it happens, not to prohibit things based on speculative harm. I also like the move away from requiring food. Cocktail service is fun!

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I'd just like to ask the members of the neighborhood association that voted against these later hours:

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Oh god. We as a society are going downhill. No one wants to work for anything anymore.

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+ it would be a win win all around (and probably make the place more affordable) if the many people who live in boston while seemingly hating living in a city would just sell up and move.

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Do you really think that that neighborhood is mostly condos?

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BU, Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, Berklee, Simmons, Harvard Medical, etc.

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It isn't.

Perhaps you're thinking of the east fens, which is near northeastern and kind of near Berklee but not near any of the others really.

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https://goo.gl/maps/ybxwrmxSnWwCzuc6A

Please zoom in and screen shot the single family homes in this street view. Thanks.

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https://goo.gl/maps/ybxwrmxSnWwCzuc6A

Heeeeeey, one data point! Cookie for you!

Please zoom in and screen shot the single family homes in this street view. Thanks.

Do you really think there's no kind of housing except for condos and single family homes?

Let me introduce you to this concept called a "city".

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The taco place is...there.

Which means the "it'll be too noisy" or whatever complaints the community association based their decision on would come from...there. So, it's not just "one data point"; it's the only data point that matters to the conversation.

Do you really think there's no kind of housing except for condos and single family homes?

What's your point? I offered to take the condo off the hands of anyone who is a member of the FCA who is concerned about patio drinking and radio noise from a taco restaurant that's basically not even within earshot of more than 1 building with any appreciable housing. Unless every objection that created the FCA's official decision came from a renter/student, then what's your point?

Unlike someone whining about taco noises, I want to live in a city with restaurants that have patios and stay open to 2 AM. I want to own a place and have a stake in that kind of neighborhood...not complain and hope everyone let's me keep everything closed at 9 PM and the sidewalks rolled up all night.

You seem like you want to be a pissant just to be a pissant....wait, did you vote against the taco place too?

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The sound proofing is excellent in the apts, at least in the bedroom - it would take 10+ people screaming into megaphones for me to hear them at night (and my hearing isn't pristine!)

(FWIW I got in through the income-affordable program through City of Boston & wish there was more affordable housing in general)

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Heavens to Betsy! I do declare that those late night tacos shall interfere with my morning tea and crumpets on the porch! I shan't get a moment of sleep!

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You certainly imagine this neighborhood to be much more affluent than it is.

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The Fenway Civic Association [...] was concerned [...] that people might be able to get a drink on the patio without having to also buy food.

gasp! GASP!

Please leave the city if the slightest amount of other people enjoying their lives is a problem for you. There's plenty of empty space in, say, Nevada where you'll never see or hear another human being again.

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Now now, let's not inflict these people on the fine folks of Nevada

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As it approved the license, the board also requested that Bartaco notify it when it begins to allow pickups by third-party delivery services, so that BTD can figure out options

It seems like just yesterday (actually two days ago) that this same licensing board was asking an applicant to come up with their own traffic plan. If the board has now realized that the city employs an entire department whose job that is, I'd call that real progress!

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They actually asked Bartaco for the same thing as the Filipino place - let the board know when they offer third-party pickup and how they plan to deal with it.

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