Aliyya Swaby Photo
Wilson at the zoning board.
East Rock neighbors may soon be able to walk to two new locations to grab a pint of locally brewed beer.
Zoning commissioners heard presentations for a brewery at 285 Nicoll St. and a restaurant and brew pub at 687 State St. Tuesday night at the Hall of Records.
They unanimously approved a special exception to allow restaurant and brew pub liquor licenses on State. They withheld a vote on the special exceptions for the Nicoll Street brewery, which goes first to City Plan Commission Wednesday for a recommendation.
East Rock Brewing
East Rock Brewing Company owner Tim Wilson asked for special exceptions to allow beer manufacturing and to allow no parking spaces on site where 29 are required.
The 285 Nicoll St property was formerly used as warehouse storage for industrial machinery, and is now home to mActivity gym and office space for refugee agency Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS).
The brewery would take up 28,000 square feet of first floor space, with 3,000 square feet for the beer hall/tasting room.
Wilson plans to hire four key employees, including the business manager, sales manager and beer hall manager. He will also hire part-time staff to work in the beer hall and a limited number of office staff.
A 99-space parking garage is set to be constructed in the basement of the warehouse to accommodate the brewery’s parking needs.
The manufacturing portion of the property will be in operation Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The beer hall will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
People will be able to buy branded merchandise and enjoy samples and pints in the beer hall’s retail space, Wilson said. The odors and noise from the manufacturing will have “minimal” impact on the neighborhood, he promised.
The brewing hall is more than the required minimum of 500 feet away from Wilbur Cross School and East Rock Magnet School’s entrances.
Underage drinking will not be allowed on the premises and staff will be TIP certified.
Festa.
Seven people spoke in favor of the plan, including East Rock Alder Anna Festa, who lives two blocks away from the proposed brewery.
“Most residents are in support of the plan,” Festa said. At a recent meeting, neighbors wanted to have a hand in naming it — torn between East Rock Brewery and Goatville Brewery.
Since the high-end gym mActivity moved into the warehouse, foot traffic has dramatically increased. “When people are walking in the streets and attending positive things, it makes the streets safer,” she said.
mActivity owner Pablo Perez said he was “pleasantly surprised” at the number of people biking and walking to the gym. His peak times of business are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening, as well as Saturday and Sunday morning. Brewery customers will be able to use the parking lot for gym customers.
Steve Fontana, the city’s deputy economic director, said the brewery would lead to job creation, tax enhancement and stimulation of nightlife in the city.
Two neighbors said they worry the brewery would attract vandals and drunk patrons to East Rock.
Bradford.
Michael Bradford — who opposed mActivity two years ago — said he thought the brewery should close at 8 p.m. during the week and be closed on Sundays to truly be family-friendly.
“It’s basically an outdoor bar,” he said.
He said he doesn’t believe that the odors wouldn’t affect neighbors when windows were open summer nights.
Mohamed Iydroose predicted the brewery’s microbeers would fuel vandalism in the neighborhood by drunk patrons — adding to vandalism already carried out by Cross students.
Wilson said the brewery is not intended to be a “late-night drinking establishment.” It will sell homebrewed beer, but no wine or liquor, he promised.
The brewery is “geared toward the opportunity for people to educate themselves and learn more about craft beer and enjoy a couple of beers,” he said.
If his application is approved, Wilson will start construction in the fall and open the brewery next spring.
Jet Brewers
Caplan (center), Kaplan (right).
Zoning commissioners Tuesday approved a separate brewing operation inside of a restaurant at 687 State St., currently the location of operational Jet Cleaners next to the I‑95 ramp.
Developer Paul Kaplan, one of the operators of J.P. Dempsey restaurant on State Street, is working on the new restaurant with a partner who “chooses to remain anonymous” for now. “My partner-to-be at the new location has been principal owner of a well known restaurant for 15-plus years,” Kaplan said.
The new operation will be a microbrewery and restaurant selling beer and other alcohol Sunday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The conversion to a brew pub will require an addition to the side of the building facing the ramp, but not the facade on State Street.
Architect Colin Caplan said he wants to maintain the architecture of the existing structure. The property already has 45 parking spaces, appropriate for the proposed seating capacity of 166.
Three people spoke in favor of the plan, including city Economic Development Administrator Matthew Nemerson, who called the restaurant an “exciting project” for State Street.
Commissioners discussed whether the developer could play recorded music from speakers on the patio proposed for the site. Chair Ben Trachten said the area is not very residential, so a condition limiting the outdoor noise would be sufficient.
They unanimously agreed to approve the special exception.