Miss Pearl spoke up for Siberia

by M.D. Dupuy

Though some saw Siberia's recent pause in live music as an example of chilly relations with the powers that be, their foray at City Hall today was no Russian winter. The underground club's owners and many of their supporters appeared before the City Planning Commission for a rezoning request that would allow live music again at 2227 St. Claude. The commission to approve Siberia's request to obtain necessary permits to continue hosting live music following their mid August shut down by the city, as long as the ownership abides by the commission's 14 provisos.

Siberia fell silent after a City permitting sweep. Their live music permit was never revoked, but they were advised by officials to go through channels before continuing their nightly concerts featuring metal, Bounce, New Orleans music and much more. After reaching a temporary agreement with the City, the bar once again began hosting live music in early October. Today, the Commission threw their support on a zoning change that is required for Siberia to permanently host live acts.

Dozens of  downtown New Orleans residents - and some from Uptown - came out to show their support, but a couple of speakers were singing a different tune.

The long list of those in favor of continued live music at Siberia’s location included Marie “Mimi” Dykes, owner of Mimi’s in the Marigny and outspoken live music advocate who resides at 2480 Dauphine St. Two of the three owners of Lost Love Lounge, Nick Scramuzza and William Walker, spoke in favor of maintaining live music at the location.

Longtime resident Scramuzza, whose family owned nearby businesses such as St. Roch Seafood Market and Cosimo’s, said he’s in “full support of Siberia.” 

“When I was growing up, St. Claude was full of life. As you know, it declined to the point that it was unbearable. With these guys, it’s full of life, they should get an award from the city for going into that neighborhood and trying to bring it back,” said Scramuzza. 

Many more echoed Scramuzza’s statements, including Uptown Messenger columnist Owen Courreges. 

“It’s a very good music venue. I’m friends with some of the artists there, I urge your support in the re zoning,” said Courreges.

The parade of support was met with some strong opposition from two people at the hearing, Barbara Adams and Antonio Garcia. 

Adams, who owns housing properites adjacent to the venue, said continued live music at the location would “limit the type of tenants [she] would be able to get to rent [her] property.” 

“They wander out of the nightclub and sit on the steps of the property next door. I have complaints from the tenants, they’re dirtying up the steps,” said Adams. 

The opposing property owner also said she was forced to take responsibility for cleaning up cigarette butts, beer bottles, and other trash from Siberia’s patrons. 

The second person to appear in opposition was Antonio Garcia, who said he lives directly behind Siberia. 

Garcia said he was “offended by those of you who hadn’t felt safe before Siberia,” and that he personally “felt much more pleasure before Siberia.” 

Garcia said that though he supports live music, “the amount of nightlife that goes on outside of Siberia is a concern.”

Garcia also mentioned that people entering Siberia tend to leave their “tallboys” and other alcoholic beverage containers in the street, rather than disposing of them properly. 

According to Garcia, “turning to St. Claude into some kind of hipster Frenchmen Street won’t improve my quality of life.” 

Siberia co-owner Daphne Loney spoke one last time to assure the Commission that she had acquainted herself with the 14 provisos they included along with their recommendation, one of which deals with more efficient trash pickup. 

“We’re going to coordinate trash pickup with other bars in the neighborhood,” Loney assured those in opposition of live music at her bar. 

Loney also mentioned in her closing statements that she, also a nearby resident, is a fulltime teacher at Delgado whose alarm clock goes off at 7:30 every morning. Loney offered Adams her cell phone number, promising that she would work with her in any way she could to make the continuation of live music at Siberia an attractive prospect for everyone in the neighborhood, not just “Frenchmen hipsters,” as Garcia implied.

*There was a correction made at 4:43pm, the City Planning Commission received a staff recommendation to approve Siberia's request, but the Commission has yet to vote on the issue.

*The Commission voted to approve Siberia's request at 5:03pm.