Neighbors oppose Logan House music plan

A state official is expected to decide this month whether neighbors have valid noise concerns about a plan to again have outdoor music at a Trolley Square restaurant and bar.

The owner of Kelly’s Logan House at 1701 Delaware Ave. has applied with the Delaware Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner to allow bands on its rear patio. The proposal met opposition from some residents in the nearby Forty Acres neighborhood, who collected enough signatures to force a hearing in front of the state liquor commissioner, John H. Cordrey, this week.

Five hundred people also have signed an online petition saying outdoor music should be allowed at the west Wilmington business, which is celebrating 150 years and is the oldest Irish bar in Delaware. The bar had music outside until 2013, when it was discovered the business didn’t have the proper permit variance.

The business is seeking to get the variance and restore what was once offered, said Mike Kelly, a Wilmington attorney whose family owns the business.

“We voluntarily shut down two years ago and lost a lot of revenue because of it,” he said.

He said the neighborhood already has live music outside, including next door at Satsuma Asian Kitchen & Bar. The 1707 Delaware Ave. eatery has a patio where music is offered.

Kelly said that “if a restaurant can have live music, how can you deny a bar?”

City Councilman Charles M. “Bud” Freel, who represents the neighborhood, said Satsuma received the permit about 12 years ago, when the business was a quiet Italian restaurant with a patio.

“Today the community would fight that (permit) just as much,” Freel said. “I have no problem with the Logan House having some live, outside music. My thought is they should give the community some nights of no music at all.”

Officials for Satsuma said they did not want to talk about the issue. About a dozen bars, nightclubs and restaurants operate on surrounding blocks in the neighborhood, which also is comprised of apartment buildings and single-family residences.

Kelly said he offered to stop the music at 11 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, but said neighbors rejected his concessions.

Stephan Rusnak, who lives at Delaware Avenue and Laurel Street, said ending music at 11 p.m. doesn’t solve the issue.

“Oh, 11 p.m. on school nights. I don’t even have kids and I find it ludicrous that would be his compromise,” he said. “We can hear the Italian Festival for one week a year. We can hear the Cinco de Mayo festival for one week of the year. It’s the frequency of this that is the problem.”

John Cherney, who has lived on nearby Laurel Street for nine years, said allowing Logan House to have outside music will lead to the “battle of the bands” in Trolley Square and Forty Acres, with more local bars applying for permits.

“There are just too many people living next to it for this,” he said.

Others said those opposed should expect a little noise when living so close to Wilmington’s most lively nightlife block.

“When I hear the music, I’m annoyed that I’m not there,” said Joe Johnson, who lives on North Scott Street less than a block from the bar.

“I personally don’t care,” said Richard Collins, who has lived less than a block from Logan House for 20 years. “I think it adds flavor to the neighborhood and there is an expectation of that if you move here.”

A hearing was held Thursday. Cordrey said he expects to issue a ruling by the end of the month.

Contact Xerxes Wilson at(302) 324-2787 orxwilson@delawareonline.com. Follow @Ber_Xerxes on Twitter.