What's happening
This bill allows alcohol to be sold at a specific property near a place of worship in Manhattan.
Why it matters
Impacts a very specific area in Lower Manhattan. The exemption applies only to a precisely described parcel of land near Greenwich Street and Thames Street, meaning the bill’s effect is tightly limited to one property rather than being a citywide or statewide change.
Affects businesses seeking liquor licenses near places of worship. By allowing on-premises alcohol sales at a location within 200 feet of a church or synagogue, the bill creates a notable exception to the state’s typical restrictions, potentially setting a precedent for similar exemptions elsewhere.
May influence local economy and neighborhood character. The change could enable new restaurants, bars, or hospitality ventures to open or expand at this property, possibly boosting economic activity in the area, while also raising considerations for nearby religious institutions and residents concerned about the proximity of alcohol sales.
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Who cares
Prospective Business Owners/Developers
Individuals or entities interested in opening or operating a restaurant, bar, or similar establishment on the specifically described property in Manhattan stand to benefit, as the bill creates an exemption to allow alcohol sales near a place of worship.
Local Community and Residents
People living or working in the direct vicinity may be affected by the introduction or expansion of alcohol-serving establishments, impacting neighborhood character, noise levels, and local business options.
Nearby Places of Worship
Churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions near the described parcel may have concerns or interests regarding the proximity of alcohol sales to their premises, potentially influencing their congregations or activities.
New York State Liquor Authority
The agency responsible for issuing and regulating alcohol licenses must implement this narrowly tailored exemption, setting a precedent for future requests and managing compliance.
Headline styles
Allow Alcohol Near Churches
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.179
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–2
- 3rd reading cal.1691
- Substituted for S10559A
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.380
- Rules report cal.380
- Reported
Show 7 earlier actions
- Reported referred to rules
- Reference changed to ways and means
- Print number 11457b
- Amend and recommit to economic development
- Print number 11457a
- Amend and recommit to economic development
- Referred to economic development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Alcohol Sales Near Church
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
11457--B
IN ASSEMBLY
May 19, 2026
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Fall) -read once and referred to the Committee on Economic Development -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to an exemption for certain property from the prohibition of alcohol sales within a certain distance of a school or place of worship
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 64 of the alcoholic beverage control law is amended by adding a new paragraph (e-18) to read as follows:
(e-18) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a retail license for on-premises consumption for a premises which shall be located within two hundred feet of a building occupied as a school, church, synagogue or other place of worship, provided such premises constitute a premises for the sale of food or beverages at retail for consumption on the premises located wholly within the boundaries of the county of Manhattan, bounded and described as follows:
AS TO THE FEE PARCEL:
ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:
BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the Easterly side of Greenwich Street with the Southerly side of Thames Street;
RUNNING THENCE Easterly along the Southerly side of Thames Street, 119 feet 3-1/2 inches to the ground now or late belonging to James Walker and formerly leased to E. Devoe and M. Williams;
THENCE Southerly along the same, 79 feet 8 inches to the Southerly line of land conveyed by the Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Stephens of the City of New York to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15941-06-6
The Hamilton Building Company by Deed dated February 1, 1907 and recorded February 4, 1907 in Liber 110 Cp 42 Sec. 1 in the Office of the Register of the County of New York;
THENCE Westerly along the same, 106 feet 10 inches, more or less (deed) 107.01 feet (actual) to the Easterly side of Greenwich Street; and
THENCE Northerly along the said Easterly side of Greenwich Street, 82 feet 7 inches to the point or place of BEGINNING.
AS TO THE EASEMENT PARCEL:
Easements, for the benefits of Fee Parcel, over the parcel of land described below, for light and air, and unobstructed view, above a lower limiting plane at an elevation of 129.38 feet above Datum Level (such Datum Level 2.75 feet above the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Datum, mean sea level, Sandy Hook, New Jersey), as described in (and subject to the terms and conditions of) (i) Section 2(c) of that certain Zoning Lot Development and Easement Agreement dated September 7, 2012, between 86 Trinity Place LLC, as Owner, and 22 Thames Street LLC, as Developer, recorded 10/9/12 in CRFN 2012000398746 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York and (ii) that certain Light and Air Easement Agreement dated September 7, 2012, between 86 Trinity Place LLC, as Grantor, and Henry II Thames LP, as Grantee, recorded 10/9/12 in CRFN 2012000398750 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York.
ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:
BEGINNING at a point on the Easterly side of Greenwich Street, distant 82 feet 8 inches Southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Easterly side of Greenwich Street with the Southerly side of
Thames Street;
RUNNING THENCE Southerly along the Easterly side of Greenwich Street, 178 feet 2 inches to the Northerly face of the Northerly wall of the building erected on the premises adjoining on the South;
THENCE Easterly along the Northerly face of the Northerly wall of the building on the premises adjoining on the South and on a line in continuation thereof, 107 feet 1-1/4 inches;
THENCE Northwesterly on a line forming an angle in the Northwest quadrant of 84 degrees 12 minutes 20 seconds with the last mentioned course, 47 feet 8-1/4 inches to the centre of a party wall;
THENCE Easterly along the centre of said party wall, 52 feet 2-1/2 inches to the Westerly side of Trinity Place;
THENCE Northerly along the Westerly side of Trinity Place, 124 feet 7-3/4 inches to the Southerly face of the Southerly wall of the building erected on the premises adjoining on the North;
THENCE Westerly along the Southerly face of said wall and on a line drawn in the continuation thereof, 74 feet 5 inches;
THENCE Northerly, 4 inches;
THENCE Westerly and partly along the Southerly face of the Southerly wall of the building adjoining on the North, 107 feet 1-3/4 inches to the point or place of BEGINNING.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.