EDGEWATER — Three Far North Side aldermen — Harry Osterman (48th), Joe Moore (49th) and Patrick O'Connor (40th) — are coming together to lift a decades-old liquor license ban on Devon Avenue to make way for a new craft beer brewery and taproom.
The proposed home of the brewery — 1221-27 W. Devon Ave. — is currently boarded up and protected by a chain link fence. But it could soon become D and G Brewing Company, owned by Loyola University grad Alex Drayer.
The proposed site sits in Osterman's ward, but the moratorium on new liquor licenses on Devon Avenue stretches through the wards of all three alderman.
To lift the ban, the aldermen must first hold a meeting with the community and then get their colleagues on the City Council to also back the change. The moratorium started over 20 years ago when the brew pub site was in O'Connor's territory, Moore said.
"As the property falls in Alderman Osterman's ward, he will make the final decision on whether to recommend to the City Council support for the zoning change," Moore wrote in an email to ward residents. "However, it also requires the City Council to lift the moratorium on the issuance of new liquor licenses that exists on Devon Avenue from Broadway to Ravenswood. This is where Alderman O'Connor and I come in."
Devon Avenue has seen a number of new developments in recent years, including Heartland Health Center, Audio Archaeology, bistros, residential developments and more. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
If the City Council agrees to lift the ban, it could not be reinstated for at least a year, according to the city's laws.
The brew pub property is owned by real estate developer Scott Whelan, who helped Pearl's Southern Comfort in Edgewater and Fountainhead in Lincoln Square come to life.
In May, the city approved the replacement of the 2,000-square-foot property's brick facade. And on Friday, signs that construction was underway were evident.
The potential brewery and taproom would serve four beers, and begin with a capacity of 500 barrels of beer a year.
Beer would be served by the glass, in growlers and by keg to local restaurants and bars. Customers would be allowed to bring in food from other restaurants and be able to watch the brewing process.
The plot at 1221-27 W. Devon where a new brewery and pub is proposed. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
When Whelan took his plans to the community in January, part of the process required to change the zoning laws of the area, the project received support.
In April, Whelan said he also planned to add three stories of residential units atop the brewery.
The aldermen, Drayer and Whelan will hold a community meeting on Tuesday July 28th at 6:30 p.m. down the block from the proposed site at Heartland Health Center's community room, 1300 W. Devon.
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