Residents Blast Amsterdam Walk Clamor

Some dozen area residents met to complain to one of Amsterdam Avenue's busiest tenants about the traffic and rowdy concert-goers that accumulate in their neighborhood, especially on weekends.

owner Eric Kline organized what he called in an e-mail a community meeting that "identifies constructive solutions for neighborhood concerns."

The concerns of the neighbors who went to the Tuesday night meeting at Park Tavern are the quantity and behavior of Loca Luna patrons, where they leave their cars, and lack of city law enforcement.

"I feel like I have no rights. Loca Luna apparently has all the rights," said Wendy White, who lives off Amsterdam Avenue.

She took pictures of an ambulance blocked out of Amsterdam Avenue because cars were parked on both sides. Valets have parked cars under "No Parking Fire Lane" signs, according to White. And despite off-duty officers working the intersection, Amsterdam traffic backs up onto Monroe drive, hindering anyone who just wants to drive through.

"It's spoiling my quality of life," she said after the meeting.

Loca Luna Community Relations Liaison Leigh Davis-Turner barred Patch from the conversation Tuesday night, calling it a private meeting.

But Virginia-Highland, Morningside and Midtown residents talked to Patch after the meeting.

Several neighbors including White said they've had people defecate or urinate in their yards, plus loiter, yell and litter. They say trouble started a few years after Loca Luna opened, when the bar started holding events that attract far more people than when it was more of a local bar. Tuesday through Saturday, Loca Luna dance nights last as late as 2:30 a.m. 

All parking is shared among the Amsterdam Walk businesses, noted Rad Slough, owner of Urban Body Fitness. That means his gym-goers compete with Loca Luna clients for parking spots.

Slough is not sure why he's not allowed as many customers per square foot as the restaurant: "I'm more than double his [Loca Luna's] space but have half the capacity. Something isn't right."

The fire marshall granted Urban Body Studios a capacity of about 425 people Slough said. Loca Luna maxes out at 789, or, with tables and chairs, 437 people.

After the two-hour meeting, Leigh Davis-Turner pledged they will act on what they heard.

The restaurant will propose some fix at another neighborhood meeting within 60 days, she said, explaining, "we are committed to a solution."

The city will probably be called upon in that solution.

City Councilman Alex Wan also attended the meeting and left with some immediate action items. "There are some things I've got to take back to public works," said Wan, "especially signage."

The two-hour meeting was also attended by Atlanta's police and fire departments.