UPDATED, Feb. 12: The Arlington Brewing Co. can now build its permanent home at 15 Ryder St. in two phases, following a 4-to-1 vote by the Redevelopment Board on Feb. 9.
The board approved a plan so that the Arlington Brewing Co.’s taproom and microbrewery at 15 Ryder St., just off Mass. Avenue and next to the town recycling yard, can proceed but be done in two distinct phases.
Arlington brewery’s founder Tom Allen told the board and the approximately 40 people gathered at the hearing that this change would allow the local microbrewery to proceed with its plans to build a beer hall and restaurant, which the Arlington Redevelopment Board approved last year.
The proposed 1,000-square-foot addition and the construction of a mezzanine level have been moved to the second phase. Most other changes involve windows and lighting that will need to be adjusted due to the two planned construction stages.
The cost of the full renovation and expansion of the warehouse, built in 1946 and previously home to Coneely Contracting, was prohibitive, said Allen at the Feb. 9 hearing, flanked by the project’s attorney and architect. “Phase two is the vision we’ve had from the beginning,” Allen said adding that they hoped to open and then have the money to build out the original plan. “It’s best to have phase two as soon as possible.”
Arlington Brewing sought an amendment to the special permit for the proposed brew pub (and its first permanent home), originally proposed in 2024. Arlington Brewing has been a regular at an outdoor area at the Arlington Reservoir and at the Arlington Historical Society’s outdoor music events in Arlington Center. A plan by Arlington Brewing to do a series of beer gardens at their Ryder Street property without building out bathrooms and indoor space was rejected by the Select Board last year.
Arlington Brewing’s special permit is valid for three years from its original approval by the Redevelopment Board. The hearing on Feb. 9 dealt only with the new building plans, and not the many issues raised by neighbors at the 2025 hearings such as traffic, parking and noise. The site, located on a private way that has no sidewalks, abuts town property and is near the Minuteman Bikeway.
Several residents used the public comment period to raise the issues of parking and traffic that a microbrewery could bring. But Redevelopment Board Chair Kin Lau noted that the hearing would not address issues already settled by the special permit approved in March 2025.
Redevelopment Board member Eugene Benson was the lone vote against splitting the construction into two segments because he wanted the board to review the project after the first phase saying that this project offered a rare chance to review work being done to “see the impact of a project.” But the other board members noted that it wasn’t necessary since the original hearings and permit had already covered the issues.
The brewer, which has beer varieties with local twists on the names such as Foxy Librarian, Menotomator, and Whittemore, sought out public support for the hearing. “When community members show up, it sends a strong message that Arlington is excited about and supportive of this project. If you are able to attend, it would mean a great deal to us,” Arlington Brewing posted on its website. Several attendees were there to support the changes to the construction plan.
The Redevelopment Board’s agenda also included articles for the 2026 Town Meeting warrant and a hearing on proposed upgrades to 1341-1347 Mass. Ave. in Arlington Heights.
This news story, originally published as an announcement on Feb. 9, 2026, was written using information from the YourArlington archives and original reporting. It has been updated.
