Beer Works withdraws application for Davis Square liquor license

[keithn.livejournal.com]

I don't see something I can link to, but according to an e-mail that was just sent out by the Davis Action Group, Beer Works has withdrawn their city liquor license application. This was going to go before the licensing committee tonight.

My assumption would be that they were aware that they were not going to be granted a license and withdrew. So those who opposed the restaurant have succeeded. I have no idea if there is any link to recent issues with the building facade, but my understanding is that that should not have been a major issue since they had planned to replace it anyway.

A big question on my mind is whether or not Davis Square will now see ANY of the 8 remaining city wide liquor licenses. The argument used by Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz against Beer Works would seem to indicate that will not happen. The implication would be that you will see no new alcohol serving restaurants or bars in Davis Square unless they buy an existing license - so the total number of alcohol serving restaurants and bars will not increase in Davis Square anytime soon (without pressure on Alderman Gewirtz and the licensing commission).

Comments

[keithn.livejournal.com]

According to Ron, Gewirtz told him that the licenses were reserved for "areas of economic need." (http://davis-square.livejournal.com/3299069.html?thread=35750397#t35750397) So no alcohol serving restaurant would qualify in Davis Square, as she has tied the licenses to areas.

Gewirtz also said in the original licensing meeting in October that Davis Square has hit a "tipping point" with regards to development (read: there are too many restaurants) and we need more "economic diversity" in the square (read: I want organic grocery/mom and pop retail).

Furthermore, I still think the claim about the licenses is bunk unless someone can show me where the decision was made. And like I asked before: Why would Gewirtz hold multiple community meetings about the proposal if she thought the license was a non-starter due to whatever undocumented decision the Board of Aldermen/Licensing Commission made regarding "economic need?" Why would she spring it as a surprise only during the licensing meeting?

The answer is because despite her trying to rally people in opposition to the proposal, there was still a lot of support for it. In fact, she admitted most of the constituents who contacted her were IN FAVOR of the proposal. So she needed some other pretense to reject the proposal, and this was it. If it wasn't this, trust me, it would have been something else she pulled out of thin air.

Also - our biggest area of economic need is Assembly Square, which already has 12 licenses, and it's ridiculous to think that Davis Square won't get a single new liquor license in the coming years.

By accepting Gewirtz's argument against Beer Works, you accept her argument against more restaurants in Davis Square. So if you want more restaurants in Davis Square, I wouldn't buy what she's saying.

[emannths.livejournal.com]

I looked into the economic develpment thing. As far as I can tell, the Somerville OSPCD weighs in whenever one of the new licenses are granted, but doesn't comment on any other license issues. In a letter to Gerwitz in 2010, they said...

"In April of 2009 OSPCD worked with the Licensing Commission to establish a set of criteria by which the applicants for “449” licenses would be reviewed to determine the appropriateness of each application. OSPCD reviews each application for its conformity with the criteria and in a written report to the Commission summarizes its findings and makes a recommendation for approval or denial."

Source:
http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=16&ID=2755

I have no idea what criteria they came up with.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Unless Ms Gewirtz is willing to speak for herself -- which she should, as she has ready access to this forum -- I think we have to assume that she's deliberately misleading her constituents to push an agenda that she herself admitted in the second community meeting wasn't working out. She's damaging the growth of the Square and openly lying to viable businesses. Unacceptable.