The Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night unanimously approved plans to convert a downtown synagogue into an events space.
During its meeting, the PZC approved a slew of special permits for Hartford lawyer Jose L. Del Castillo to open a drinking and entertainment assembly place, including an outdoor cafe with a bar, at a former synagogue located at 215 Pearl St.
According to plans, Del Castillo wants to target private and community gatherings, including weddings, birthdays and anniversary parties, for the space.
“I think it’s a great use for a historic building,” PZC member David McKinley said during Tuesday’s meeting. “I think it’d be good for Pearl Street and for downtown. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”
Del Castillo bought the long-vacant, 3,750-square-foot property in 2019 for $196,000.
According to plans submitted to the city, Del Castillo wants to operate the building as a two-story events space with food, catering, beverages and music. The facility will be able to accommodate anywhere from 25 to 400 people on two floors of event space that would both contain about 2,200 square feet. Rents will range from $1,000 to $2,000 for five to six hours of facility use.
Renovations to the property include adding a ramp to create an accessible walkway to a second floor and creating a two-floor outdoor plaza. Del Castillo also plans to add outdoor lighting, benches and hanging baskets to go with tables and chairs at the lower and upper terraces. The property will also need additional bathrooms and HVAC improvements.
Del Castillo said the goal is to have the new events space up and running by October after doing at least $750,000 in upgrades to the site.
Commission members were supportive of the plan.
“I just want to say that anytime I was coming out of TheaterWorks or coming out of bin228 it was always just sort of heartbreaking to see that building sitting with the for sale sign on it,” PZC member Jonathan Harding said during the meeting. “For years I felt like ‘I just need to buy this building to put it to productive use or something’ but I’m really glad to see it’s gonna be put to productive use again — I think it will be great for the neighborhood.”
The PZC on Tuesday didn’t discuss two cannabis business applications: one submitted by developer Kevin Henry for 1396 Park St., and another from Change Incorporated CEO Derrick Gibbs at 89 Arch St.
Henry in June submitted his special permit application for an adult-use cannabis retailer on the same 3-acre property as Hartford’s Parkville Market, which is owned by developer Carlos Mouta. The 4,380-square-foot building is the smallest of three at 1390-1400 Park St.
The PZC continued the public hearing on Gibbs’ proposal until its July 12 meeting. Gibbs and his partners are under contract to purchase the 2,500-square-foot building, which previously was home to Blind Pig Pizza, and hope to open a cannabis dispensary at the site.
