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North Adams Taverns Planning MovesBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
10:28PM / Monday, November 09, 2009
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Two local pouring establishments are looking to relocate within the city.
The Planning Board on Monday night approved an application to move the Artery Lounge but continued a hearing on the Crystal Hard Hat Saloon.
Nancy and Todd Hebert are planning to renovate the former Quinn's Paint and Wallpaper on Union and Canal streets and move the Crystal Hard Hat Saloon there from its current location just down Union Street.
The Heberts said they have a purchase-and-sales agreement on the building at 55-59 Union St. and have taken out a $40,000 to renovate the interior.
"We've been paying rent to Rusty Ransford. I've been putting money into his building ... ," Todd Hebert told the board, as Nancy Hebert added "We'd like to put it into our own building."
The Heberts have owned the tavern for three years and Todd Hebert said he has worked hard to clean up the current property as well as the clientele.
The Heberts' plan, drawn up an architect, includes a "cold" kitchen, two pool tables and space for up to 99. It would occupy the main portion of the building on the corner of Union and Canal. The second story and an addition on Canal Street would be used for storage for the time being.
But while the couple were commended for their complete and professional application, the Office of Community Development recommended a site visit. Member Paul Senecal questioned the parking situation and expressed concern over parking along Canal Street.
Todd Hebert said the building has paved parking for eight off Canal Street and he had leased 12 spots "indefinitely" across the street near the former Barber Leather Co. from Ransford.
The board, however, continued the hearing until its December meeting and referred the parking issue to the Traffic Commission. A site visit also is planned.
In contrast, Daniel O'Neil was swiftly approved a special permit to relocate the Artery Lounge from its Holden Street location to the former Ace's Place at 68 Union St. The only conditions were that the Budwieser sign and its brackets from Ace's be removed. Parking was not raised as an issue, although the new location is almost directly across from where the Crystal Hard Hat's plans to move.
An application from Core States Group at 148 Eagle St. to update signage was continued at the applicant's request and a sign for Berkshire Realty at 26 Roberts Drive was approved. |
I love the fact that the Planning Board won't even consider an application until the business has a lease or owns the building. This is exactly the kind of crap that causes businesses to look elsewhere.
Have any of those guys actually ever owned a business? | | from: Anon | on: 11-10-2009 12:00AM
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| You are clueless. The board postponed the Hard Hat decision because there are questions about parking and the state of the building, which has never been used before as a bar. It had nothing to do with whether the Hard Hat owners were buying the building or had a lease - they ARE buying the building, and will do so once they get a permit. | | from: Clueless | on: 11-10-2009 12:00AM
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| Hopefully there are many, many changes just around the corner with the new admistration coming in. There will be new people in place who no longer have the strings attached to the corner office. A new sense of spirit and cooperation are sorely needed in NA to both keep exisiting businesses and attract new ones. For far too long every single detail of life, leisure and business had to have the personal stamp of approval from one person. Thankfully the voters spoke loud and clear. It is time for new people and new ideas to be occupying these key offices. | | from: Hopeful | on: 11-10-2009 12:00AM
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| The board doesn't even consider the status of lease/buy. What it does consider is the condition of the property - knowing that it's difficult for an applicant to guarantee improvements when the building owner is absentee/not willing/plain cheap. It's a real problem. | | from: ditto | on: 11-10-2009 12:00AM
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| perhaps someone could do a follow-up story and answer some of the questions raised. | | from: mitzi | on: 11-10-2009 12:00AM
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| Like many of other boards here in North Adams, the planning board definitely needs to be cleaned out. | | from: Jake | on: 11-11-2009 12:00AM
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| Isn't the side wall of Ace's near the river a little crooked? It looks like this dump has seen better days and should be torn down. | | from: wondering | on: 11-14-2009 12:00AM
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Who is going to hire the crossing guard to help the drunks cross the street without getting hit. Isn't the city going to be responsible for any injuries that occur from crossing the road because they issued the permit. Who is going to pay for the crosswalk to be painted and maintained on union st. so these people can cross the road.
Editor: Considering several bars and a former package store have existed in that area for decades, I'm not sure what your point is. | | from: CURIOUS | on: 11-15-2009 12:00AM
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