Springfield's Iconic Walnut Inn before the planning commission today.

Started by sheclown, October 22, 2015, 07:01:46 AM

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sheclown

October 22, 2015, 07:01:46 AM Last Edit: October 22, 2015, 01:12:40 PM by sheclown
QuoteSome of you may know about the Walnut Inn, located on Walnut Street between 10th and Carmen Streets and some of you may not. Originally, it was a grocery store, but for the past 33 years it has been a little local pub, frequented by some neighbors and some of the local factory workers. The previous owner Vic Wierzbicki has sadly passed away and a couple of our neighbors, Kim Lockwood and Jason Beard, would like to continue the Walnut Inn as a local pub - to go have a few beers or glasses of wine, play pool and maybe watch a football game. Tomorrow we are going in front of city council to ask permission to keep this place open. I have created this petition and am asking for your support because zoning recommended approval for the bar but with the condition that the hours of operation be 9am - 9pm. I am going to request that they not limit our hours of operation. This bar has been used in two movies and is a true Springfield dinosaur, a lot like Tommy's. Please help me keep this place going. Thank You, Alannah Daly.

Take a moment and sign the petition --

The Walnut Inn makes Walnut Street safer for the residents and brings life to this area of Springfield. I certainly hope that the planning commission will make any exceptions necessary to allow the Walnut Inn to continue to operate and add to the vitality of the Springfield Historic District.


The Walnut Inn is an icon, the longest operating bar in Springfield. It sits in an isolated street and the activity it brings to Walnut Street adds a sense of security for the residents there. The Walnut Inn has always been a good neighbor. And in fact, has invited neighbors to participate in its annual cookout. It truly is a neighborhood bar in the best sense of the term.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/help-me-get-walnut-inn-opened-again

BridgeTroll

#1
October 22, 2015, 09:41:18 AM
Kim and Jason are good people... I wish them the best!  8)
In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

strider

#2
October 22, 2015, 11:13:29 AM Last Edit: October 22, 2015, 11:17:29 AM by strider
Just to put out here a few facts:

The Boys and Girls Club is right around the corner and generates more noise than this bar ever has. I will admit, it is a bit fun when the full band practices!

While there are a few residential housing units near by, it is 98% light industrial.  Even the houses are almost all zoned light industrial. I think one of them was switched to RMD-S years ago but another was asked for but not allowed due to pressure from the plastics factory. The only reason I can think of to limit hours is due to the residential component.  If the city actually cared about these few houses within the Historic District, why did it burden them with the light industrial zoning? That zoning has hurt the values and marketability of thoses houses far far more than any little bar ever will.  Now is not the time to jump up and say, hey, look, there's a few houses there and restrict a small bar that has been there for 33 years.

When the overlay was created, many commercial properties were converted to only residential uses, primarily on corners.  This was done to "protect the residential uses" around them. Since then, many have been converted back via a PUD, like three layers, Meeks Building, ETC.  They were new more intensive uses with much larger residential areas around them and they do not have the proposed restrictions.  This bar is simply being continued and therefore should be granted some level of grandfathering.

The houses immediately to the north are rentals and have been at times the root cause of neighbor to neighbor issues in the past. Just makes the bar seem overly quiet rather than an issue at anytime.

We own the house across the street and have for many years.  It is now a rental (duplex) and no one has ever complained about the bar.

We operate a business next door and frankly, we miss the activity.  I also think it added to the security of the area because of the people being around later into the evening.

This is indeed the fringe of the district with RR tracks just a block to the east, industrial/ institutional  uses to the north and west and a pretty equal mix of residential and empty lots to the south. Also immediately to the east is empty lots, 2 houses and the plastic factory, which has made clear that they want the empty lots light industrial as a buffer between them and the rest of the district.

Here's hoping the allow this bar to remain and with reasonable hours. Closing at 9PM is not reasonable.
"My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement." Patrica, Joe VS the Volcano.

strider

#3
October 22, 2015, 06:24:09 PM
From Facebook, I think they got the approval and did not get the extra restrictions so they are good to go to open it back up. Though I suspect they are doing some sprucing up first!
"My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement." Patrica, Joe VS the Volcano.

BridgeTroll

#4
October 22, 2015, 09:28:44 PM
Woohoo!  8)
In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."
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