Nanobrewery, Toby Keith & Billiards Face NIMBY Opposition
This Friday we spot a trio of projects that are battling neighborhood opposition.
1200 Bank’s plan to turn the ten-year vacant Beneficial Bank Building at 12th and Chestnut into a high-end billiards parlor with rooftop bar needs zoning changes as billiards is a prohibited use in that section of Center City. Councilman Frank DiCicco has introduced legislation to allow the project to go forward. Some neighbors are irate and promise to challenge the “constitutional validity” of the legislation. [KYW News Radio]
Internet developer Tim Patton wanted to build Saint Benjamin Brewery, a nano-brewery in his house in Fishtown. The tiny operation would have produced four kegs a week and despite assurances that there would be no smell and no explosions of yeast, it was shot down by the neighborhood 36-32. [Philadelphia Daily News]
Local groups in Old City are lining up to oppose a development at 401 Race Street. The latest has the hotel/retail/residential project being anchored by a 23,000 sqft country music themed bar/restaurant/dance venue affiliated with country music’s Toby Keith. These project originally was proposed with a Harley Davidson themed restaurant. We can’t figure out if this is better or worse. [Plan Philly]
