City Moves To Rethink How It Operates La Marina Site

INWOOD, NY – The future of a waterfront site that was home to the controversial nightspot La Marina will be discussed at a public meeting in July.

The city-organized meeting will look at the way Dyckman Marina is operated, and could be the first step in the Parks Department taking over full operation of the site.

The marina is city-owned, but business owners – most recently the Manhattan River Group that operated La Marina – pay to operate on the public parkland located where Inwood Hill Park meets Fort Tryon Park along the Hudson River.

In December, La Marina, which opened in 2012, was shut down by the New York State Liquor Authority. State officials cited the recent arrest of a bar manager for narcotics trafficking and numerous violations of state liquor laws as the reason for the emergency license suspension.

Christian Mendez, 33, was arrested outside the Dyckman Street business in November and charged with seven counts of the criminal sale of a controlled substance. Mendez is accused of using La Marina as a drug den and sold large quantities of cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana to undercover officers at the business.

In February, Manhattan River Group filed for bankrupcy, claiming it was $600,000 in debt.

The restaurant and bar has received numerous complaints from Inwood neighbors for noise and crowding issues.

The public hearing will be held on July 8.