Flyers urging neighbors to pack the Swinging Sixties Senior Center are circulating across East Williamsburg and Bushwick ahead of a pivotal public hearing on the venue formerly known as the Brooklyn Mirage.
If you’ve walked past a telephone pole in our neighborhood this week, you may have seen the flyers. “COMMUNITY BOARD 1 PUBLIC HEARING · BUSHWICK RESIDENTS, THIS IS IMPORTANT!” they read in bold, block letters, urging residents to show up tonight and make their voices heard on the future of the massive nightlife complex at 111 Gardner Avenue and 140 Stewart Avenue.
Tonight at 6 p.m., Brooklyn Community Board 1 will hold a combined public hearing and board meeting at the Swinging Sixties Senior Center at 211 Ainslie St. in Williamsburg. The main event: a 20-minute presentation from the new operators of the former Brooklyn Mirage, who are seeking a new liquor license for an open-air cabaret venue with a capacity of more than 7,850 patrons.
The applicant is listed on the official CB1 agenda as “AG Acquisition 1 LLC and FIVE International Hotel Management Limited (DIFC) as MGR. DBA TBD.” That’s the legal framework behind what will become Pacha New York, the Ibiza-born nightclub brand’s return to the city, managed by Dubai-based FIVE Holdings. The application covers liquor, wine, beer and cider, as well as live music of all types, patron dancing, third-party promoters, security personnel, and outdoor spaces including a patio, deck, freestanding structures and open areas. Attorney Max Bookman of Petesky & Bookman will present on behalf of the venue.
The hearing comes at a critical moment. Demolition of the old Brooklyn Mirage structure wrapped up ahead of schedule in late March, leaving the 140 Stewart Avenue lot empty. FIVE Holdings has announced a June 2026 opening for Pacha New York’s first season, which would run through October. Former Avant Gardner executives have speculated the venue will be stripped-back for its debut — one designer previously described it as likely to resemble “a parking lot” — but the sheer scale of what’s being proposed has residents worried about what a full summer of outdoor amplified music and thousands of patrons could mean for the surrounding blocks.
The community flyers, which appear to have been organized by a group called Nightlife Neighbors, lay out a list of concerns for residents to raise during public comment. Among them: violations of NYC noise code and quiet hours, sleep disruption, litter, public intoxication, strain on local transit, traffic and parking congestion, crowd management, and accountability from the business. The flyers also reference the venue’s troubled history under its former ownership. Avant Gardner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2025 after the Mirage failed to reopen due to safety violations following a $30 million renovation. The venue never hosted a single show last season, and roughly 30,000 ticket holders were left without refunds until Pacha offered vouchers earlier this year.
“Without community voices at the table, they could get everything they ask for and residents will endure the impacts,” the flyer states.
Community Board 1’s recommendations carry weight with the State Liquor Authority, which makes the final determination on licensing. While the board’s vote is advisory, a strong showing of public opposition — or support — often influences the conditions attached to a license, including sound limits, operating hours, and crowd management requirements.
The Pacha presentation is just one piece of a packed agenda tonight. CB1 is also hearing from NYC DOT on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign, reviewing a proposal from Slate Property Group and RiseBoro Community Partnership for 312 units of affordable and supportive housing at 67 Meserole St., and considering two Landmarks Preservation Commission presentations for Greenpoint Avenue. Beyond the presentations, the board will review 23 new liquor license applications — including a bar and tavern called La Sala at 290 Meserole St. and a new arts venue at 259-277 Green St. — along with 37 license renewals, two sidewalk café permits, one outdoor dining application, and two cannabis retail dispensary licenses.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Those wishing to speak during the public session must sign up in person between 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes. Residents who cannot attend can email written comments to [email protected] or [email protected] before the meeting.
This is a developing story. Bushwick Daily will be covering tonight’s hearing. For more on the Mirage-to-Pacha saga, read our previous coverage: The Brooklyn Mirage is becoming Pacha New York and Brooklyn Mirage’s VIP artist pods for sale as new owners begin demolition.
