Allan Appel Photo
The Celentano Funeral Home wants to use a brick building four houses down the street to serve wine and beer at events that are not funeral-related. That departure from quiet post-mortem repasts has some neighbors worried it will become a magnet for late night carrying-on in a a neighborhood that already has its problems. Others feel a business has a right to try to make it any way it can in a tough economy.
The issue comes before the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) Tuesday night.
The brick and glass brick building at 440 Elm fronts on Elm. Itt backs onto a spacious parking lot, whose asphalt stretches down to Edgewood to accommodate parkers for funerals at Celentano’s Dwight Street home.
The Elm building formerly housed medical offices. Celentano rehabbed it in 2007 with a kitchen and banquet facilities for up to 48 diners.
Up to now those diners and drinkers have also been mourners.
The variance Celentano seeks from the zoners is to allow beer and wine to be served in the space at events unrelated to funerals.
That prospect concerns Yvette Barnard. When she saw the notice of a public meeting, she circulated it among friends so that they might show up at Tuesday night’s BZA.
“I personally think it’s not a place for alcohol. With that particular block we have enough issues to deal with in the community. It’s definitely pushing it,” she said.
However, Barnard said, she has her mind open and wants to hear from Celentano about the hours of operation and the expected clientele.
According to the BZA staff recommendations, the place should operate no later than 11 p.m.
When told that, Barnard paused, and said, OK, “but what will be the real deal?”
Whatever the plans, the idea is all right with Erica Courtmanche. She’s a third-grade teacher at King Robinson Magnet School and has been living directly across from the funeral parlor for nearly a year.
If they need the new use to further their business in a tough economy, “I think it’s a good idea,” she said.
As to potential new noise or partying in the neighborhood? “To be honest, this street isn’t ever quiet. There are always people walking around. I don’t think it will add much noise,” she said.
That said, she and her husband, who are concluding a one-year lease, plan to move to a different neighborhood, where it’s quieter.
The proposed new use would take place across the street from Fellowship Place. That’s a rehab facility for people struggling with mental health problems. It has been serving about 600 people a year in the location since 1985.
Fellowship Place clinical coordinator Brenda Cullom said Celentano has always been a good neighbor. As long as the new activities are private or require membership, she said, she doesn’t have an objection.
If her clients could get in, however, that potentially could be problematical. “We are concerned it could be a trigger,” she said.
For relapse,that is.
She added that if a good jazz group were playing, she would be interested in dropping by herself.
That’s not likely to be the case. Another of the City Plan staff recommendations to the zoners is that there be no live entertainment.
Fellowship Place Executive Director Mary Guerrera said that many of her staff of 50 regularly use the Celentano parking lot for a reduced fee and Celentano also often accommodates overflow parkers for Fellowship Place special events.
“Celentano has always been a good neighbor. I know they’ll exercise good plans and good judgment. I wish them luck whatever they do,” she said.
Black-coated staffers at the home were unexpectedly busy with a funeral and had to cancel a scheduled tour for a reporter of the space under consideration.
“After the hearing we’ll be happy to talk and show you the whole nine yards,” said a Celentano family spokesman.
To be continued at the Board of Zoning Appeals Tuesday at 6:30 at 200 Orange St.