Some positive developments are coming from the Save CBGB. After a recently court battle, Judge Joan Kenney has ruled that one the the club does not owe the Bowery Residents Committee: the disputed more than $300,000 in back rent. The rent feud dates back five years, when the committee first went to court to collect the rent.

Steven Van Zandt, who is organizing the coalition to save the club had this to say:

We're thrilled with Judge Kenney's decision which confirms what we've always known: […] CBGB's has always been an exemplary tenant and this issue of non payment of back rent has been shown to be completely false.

At this point, we hope to move forward with lease renewal negotiations and see no reason as to why talks should be stalled any longer. We're hopeful for a speedy resolution with the BRC, and urge Mr. Rosenblatt to meet with Hilly Kristal, a request that has been ignored time and time again.

In her ruling, the Judge explained that

CBGB has proven itself worthy of being recognized as a landmark -- a rare achievement for any commercial tenant in the ever diverse and competitive real estate market of New York City […] It would be unconscionable for this court to allow petitioner to proceed with its intent to evict CBGB … because it failed to notice that monies were outstanding for approximately four years,

While a positive development, the future of CBGB's is not assured until the lease is renewed. The current lease will expire on August 31st; just a few weeks away,

A number of acts have pledged their support to the legendary venue, including two influential acts which reunited to raise money: Lifetime and Kid Dynamite. As well, a concert series is expected to run for the next few months.