A small, casual wine bar called Upperwest has been trying to open in between Harvard and Central squares since last March, facing opposition from a competitor that appeared to affect its chances at securing a liquor license.
Now, in response to a 35-name petition the Cambridge Licensing Commission received last year against the proposed wine bar, a local real estate agent is facing charges that he forged a petition to block Upperwest from opening, according to the Cambridge Day. Sydney DePaulo will appear at an arraignment in Cambridge District Court on April 1 to answer charges of forgery, trying to pass off a worthless document as genuine, and intimidation of a witness.
According to the Day, "Along with a writing style that is strikingly similar and uniquely angular from line to line, despite being presented as written by different people, there are other curiosities on the petition – including three people at three different addresses on Inman Street all misspelling the street’s name the same way."
DePaulo addressed his concerns at previous licensing hearings and on an online petition (that he created and solely signed): "I certainly do not want my property value to go down because of new bars with 2 a.m. licenses."
Upperwest has a petition of its own.