Neighbors seek shutdown of Kick Back Lounge

June 15, 2017 | Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD – At its June 13 meeting, the Pine Point Community Council agreed to invite Board of License Commissioners Chair Peter Sygnator to its next meeting to discuss the future of the Kick Back Lounge.

The club, located at the corner of State and Marjorie streets, was the scene of an early-morning shooting of three people that claimed the lives of two Springfield men on June 4 . Warren Payne Jr., 27, died that day, while Chauncy Marshall, 31, succumbed to his injuries on June 8.

The Springfield Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating the homicides.

Residents at the meeting spoke of the negative impacts the club has had on the surrounding neighborhood, including noise at late hours, illegal parking, destruction of property and sexual acts performed in public. Neighbors complained those issues were regularly reported and when called the police rarely took action.

Members of the board and the audience also criticized the establishment for a lack of adequate security, asserting that management should have employed off-duty police officers.

Kick Back Lounge management agreed to voluntarily shut down on a temporary basis in the wake of the shooting, but the council’s universal stance was, given the most recent incident and the establishment’s long history of problems, a more permanent solution is warranted.

“I think the entire board is in agreement that we’d like to see that place shut down,” John Lysak, president of the council, said.

No representative of the Kick Back Lounge, also sometimes known as Club Pandora, nor the property owners were present at the meeting. Ramani Realty LLC, managed by Keisha Edmondson of Windsor, CT, purchased the building in 2015.

When queried as to what residents could do, Lysak suggested starting a petition and collecting signatures to present to Sygnator if and when he meets with the board.

The council also voted not to recommend the approval of a zoning change and site plan for a proposed residential housing development at the site of the former Russell’s Family Restaurant on Boston Road.

Nick Graham, a Springfield native now located in Houston, TX, originally gained the support of a skeptical committee for rental housing aimed at attracting young professionals in April 2015. The plan called for 14 2,200-square-foot units at a monthly rate of $1,300 to $1,400. Construction was to be completed by that September, however, the property remains undeveloped with a temporary fence and a large gravel pile serving as the only evidence of work.

At the June 13 meeting, Graham said he encountered complications in receiving approval from the Water and Sewer Commission, resulting in a 14-month process with nine different submissions. In August 2016, the commission confirmed to Reminder Publications the plan had not yet been approved. Graham claimed it took a change in personnel reviewing his project to get it approved in September 2016, but at that time “the bank wasn’t excited to move forward.”

Furthermore, he said the city changed the zoning rules for properties zones as Business A. Under the old zoning guidelines, his project would have been an allowed use. However, under the new regulations, he would have to get a change in the zoning for the parcel to Residential C and obtain a special permit from the City Council. He is scheduled to go in front of the City Council on June 26.

He added if he was unable to obtain the necessary zone change and special permit, he would sell the land to a commercial developer.

Members of the community council and the audience took issue with the lack of attention given to the property during the period of inactivity. Graham admitted fault and said he has instructed his local management company, Pine Point Property Management, to be more vigilant. However, Lysak noted local business owners had taken it upon themselves to keep the property clean and the council had little faith in the management company.

“It got to the point that politicians were having press conferences in front of your sand pile talking about getting it cleaned up,” Lysak said, citing a June 1, 2016 press event hosted by City Councilor and state Rep. Bud L. Williams and City Councilor Marcus Williams on illegal dumping.

When pressed further by the council on his lack of communication with the neighborhood and lack of attention to the site, Graham said he “wasn’t aware” of the issues.

“[Former community council member] Gloria [DiFilipo] had all my contact information,” he said, to which council members noted that DiFilipo had not been on the board for two years.

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