Sketch of proposed Common Ground restaurant at Broaway Plaza, showing outdoor seats.Is Arlington ready for a little bit of Boston?
Not yet, according to the majority who spoke to the Redevelopment Board at a hearing Monday, July 29, as those involved sought unsuccessfully to find common ground.
An expanded restaurant by that name — Common Ground — proposed for the site of Gemma at 319 Broadway would bring to Broadway Plaza as many as 228 indoor seats, musical entertainment and fold-out windows, reminiscent of spots in Boston’s North End.
Among the estimated 25 attending, a dozen spoke against the plan, citing parking and noise issues, and two favored it.
As for parking, a 1994 special permit, under which Au Bon Pain opened at the site, 20 parking spaces were required. The proposal for 228 seats calls for 57 spaces.
Michael Cayer, Redevelopment Board chairman, said July 20 that, under the permit, spaces may be included so long they are with 1,000 feet from the restaurant. That would include the Russell Common lot, behind St. Agnes.
That is among the issues that proponent must address by the board’s next meeting, Aug. 19. Another is soundproofing, as entertainment is planned. The board made no decisions about the plan.
Bob O’Guin, who owns the Common Ground Bar & Grill at 85 Harvard Ave., Allston, came before the board with his attorney, John Leone.
O’Guin seeks 120 seats in the front dining area. In the back, in a space that is now undeveloped, would be function room with 108 seats.
The plan also shows 30 outdoor seats, separated by planters. Carol Kowalski, town planning director, wrote: “Sidewalk seating permits are granted by the Board of Selectmen.”
Cayer agreed with that. He said that, according to town counsel, the Board of Selectmen, not the Redevelopment Board, must deal with outdoor seats.
O’Guin called the restaurant’s planned front windows “accordion-style,” allowing them to open up to the sidewalk when the weather permits.
Saying he said would use local food as much as possible, he said his menu would be a bit cheaper than Not Your Average Joe’s.
The hours of operation are proposed for 11 a.m. to midnight.
Leone said the pub would be more like a high-end restaurant than a bar room and would be run differently than the Allston establishment.
Attorney Robert Annese, speaking for Robert Mirak, had questions about parking.
Gemma, which used only the front of its space, had 82 seats, requiring 20 parking spaces.
Michael Ruderman, a Town Meeting member who lives at 9 Alton St., nearby, firmly opposed the proposal. His comments reflected those already published at YourArlington.
For Madrona Tree owner Tanya Abraham and Alton Street Dance owner Elizabeth Cammarata, fearful they will lose business, parking is also an issue.
Richard Stavros, of the Regent Theatre, said Common Ground would address needs of his customers, particularly after shows end after 10 p.m.
Seth Cargiuolo, who lives across Mass. Ave. in the Legacy, said he fully supports a neighborhood pub in Arlington Center.
On Aug. 19, O’Guin and Leone are scheduled to go before the selectmen, which must decide about alcohol and common-victualler licenses.
The hearing lasted nearly three hours.
This story was published Wednesday, July 29, 2013. An initial report that the restaurant would have the town’s first fold-out windows was incorrect. Za has them.
