Mon 6/23
Artist/gallerist Loren Naji, whose Ohio City gallery on West 25th was shut down twice in May — once for serving alcohol without a permit and the other for lacking a certificate of occupancy — appeared before the Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals this morning, Monday June 23 to clear his first step to applying for the occupancy permit.
Based on his blueprints, Naji was required to have 53 dedicated parking spots to accommodate the crowds at his bimonthly art parties. While the number, based on square footage and not on the number of people who usually attend his events, seemed outrageous, he cleared the bar easily with the 60 spaces that his next door neighbor, Voss Industries, allows him to use on reception nights.
The five-member board voted unanimously to approve Naji’s parking arrangement after hearing testimony from about half of the two dozen supporters who packed the hearing room. Among those speaking on his behalf were Cuyahoga Partnership for Arts and Culture president/CEO Tom Schorgl, Ohio City Inc interim executive director Tom McNair, Ward 3 councilman Joe Cimperman, and Michael Gill, publisher/editor of CAN (Collective Arts Network) Journal, whose summer issue launch part May 23 was the second of the two events at Naji’s gallery that were shut down. Also offering support was the president of the South of Lorain block club who said that of her 17 voting members at the last meeting, 15 voted in favor of supporting Naji, one voted against, and one abstained.
Many artists spoke on Naji’s behalf as well, pointing to the work he has done to grow the art community. Gill pointed out that the raids of Naji’s gallery have already had a chilling effect on the gallery scene, where no galleries have dedicated parking and all have been serving alcohol at openings for years without a special license.
The board asked those supporting Naji to speak first and those opposing him to speak next. Henry Senyak, whose complaints set in motion the gallery closures, was the only one who stood to speak in the second half, but he didn’t really offer any opposition, but rather provided some information he felt was pertinent.
The approval of his parking arrangement is the first step for Naji. His permit will be granted or denied following visits from city inspectors and the fire department.