The Budget and Finance Committee moved to put an agreement on for passage that would convey 0.1516 acres of public right-of-way (portions of Eve Alley, Snyder Alley and Baumann Street in the West End) to American Craft Brewery LLC, doing business as Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery, to create a truck staging area. The administration told the committee the brewery's total project development cost is "just over $7,400,000" and the right-of-way fair market value is $9,400 to be paid by the brewery.
Why it matters: The conveyance allows the brewery to assemble multiple parcels and stage trucks closer to the brewery, which the administration said will reduce travel distances for staging and bring some jobs on-site. Council member Nolan noted Sam Adams "is the largest manufacturing facility in the urban core" and said he appreciated Sam Adams' willingness to negotiate and the city's insertion of a right-of-first-refusal covering the entire parcel.
Debate and neighborhood concerns: Council members acknowledged concerns about adding commercial truck staging near residential areas. Council member Nolan said he was "not excited about a commercial parking lot being built so close to what could be a neighborhood business district," but said that given Sam Adams' investment, short-term alternatives were unlikely. A company representative said staging will be for trucks only and estimated "4 to 7" additional workers moving from an off-site staging location to this site. The administration reported two letters of support from the West End Community Council.
Design and mitigation: The brewery representative said the fencing will match the existing black 8-foot fence around the brewery; zoning variance was obtained to increase fence height from 6 to 8 feet for security. The representative denied plans to store skids or other materials and said the design routes inbound trucks off Findlay with exits on Livingston to avoid backups on Findlay.
Ending: The committee placed the item on for passage with no recorded objections in the transcript; the sale includes a right of first refusal for the city should the brewery later offer the parcel for sale.