USA, FL: Four families working on opening Amicus Brewing Ventures in downtown Tallahassee
Four families want to transform old graffiti-tagged waterworks into a neighborhood craft brewery in downtown Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Democrat reported on January 27.
It's an L-shaped eyesore now, a far cry from being the city's first water system in the 17th century when Tallahassee relied on wells and cisterns. Located at Gaines and Gadsden streets, the site hasn't pumped water since 1958.
The 1-acre patch with five buildings had been deserted for two decades until the city sold it to North American Properties in 2018. NAP, the Cincinnati-based developer that built the AC by Marriott Hotel and Millstream at Cascades Apartments, used the site for parking and storage to finish the nearby redevelopment at Cascades.
Yet, the site and its unique buildings were meant to be more than storage and parking. Soon, NAP is slated to sell it so it can once again serve Tallahassee.
This time, it may make history along the way as Amicus Brewing Ventures — an all female-owned brewing company — takes over and pours something new into something old. (Craft beer fans will also note the company's initials are "ABV," which also stands for alcohol by volume, used to measure the alcohol content of beer.)
Years ago, the four families all met at Faith Presbyterian Church on North Meridian Road, where their friendship bloomed.
In time, they camped in state parks throughout Florida, stopped at local breweries along the way in St. Petersburg, Jacksonville and St. Augustine and walked the brewery circuit in Asheville, North Carolina.
The four families — Laura and Shaun York, Mary and Sheldon Steen, Laura and Tom Barrett and Alison and Tim Denny — formed Amicus Brewing Ventures. They reveled in the fellowship that naturally came along with enjoying craft beer among friends.
Inspired, they searched the capital city for viable venues. The Waterworks site bubbled to the surface.
“What we really felt that all these cities had that Tallahassee is capable of having is a brew center area of town,” Alison Denny said.
The Amicus name was selected by the fact that the families represent a group of friends who want to a create a “friendly atmosphere in our brewery," Denny said.
Steen, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church on Bannerman Road, said the core of their mission will be to create a sense of hospitality.
“I think our meeting at church is also a part of that,” Steen said. “Our idea of the ideal space is a space that’s welcoming and open and accessible.
"We want to be as friendly as we can possibly be and offer a wide range of beers that will meet the needs of different flavor profiles. People have different tastes and we want to meet all of those needs."
Despite its haggard appearance and rundown interior, the company owners fell in love with the building's bones and potential.
The two towers, resembling church chapels, accommodated high-rising water pumps. The water tank, a concrete bunker, is subterranean and covered because that kept the water cool and reduced evaporation.
In 2016, the Knight Creative Communities Institute produced a report on redevelopment ideas for the Waterworks property that included a performing space and a distillery.
Previous redevelopment concepts for a museum or restaurant weren't viable due to space limitations.
Once NAP acquired the property, the company proposed the windowless water tank to become a performance stage. Its walls would remain. The roof would be peeled and replaced by new steel or a translucent roof matching the original shape. A restaurant or bar, one with a distillery or brewery, would go into the main building.
Amicus plans to create a taproom for small batch beers and limited canned sales. The group hopes to have commonly sought after beers on tap, along with others to appeal to a wide range of tastes. It will also have ample on-site outdoor space for relaxation and games.
The waterworks property is on the National Historic Register. The Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation will have to approve any historical changes to the building, such as windows and doors that need to be updated.
"That’s part of what we love about the building," Laura Barrett said. "We actually hope to weave in some of that historical story into the design inside the building.”
Shawn McIntyre, NAP’s managing partner for Florida, said a brewery may be a viable use for the property’s unique structure while maximizing space: “Even though time passes, what I thought was going to happen there looks like it’s going to happen.”
More on the waterworks: Cascades Project developer submits plan for Waterworks property
He held on to the property for investment, knowing the location would be an eventual draw. While the sale of the property has not yet been completed, McIntyre said the transaction may be finished by April.
The group is requesting financial assistance toward the restoration efforts. On Feb. 1, they’ll be going before the Downtown Redevelopment Commission for a recommendation to be presented to the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency board.
If the DRC provides a recommendation, the CRA board is slated to discuss the request next month.
According to the company’s grant funding application, the estimated total project cost for the Waterworks site is about $1.2 million. The group is requesting $297,220 in grant CRA funds, representing 24% of the project construction cost.
"We're four local families,” said Sheldon Steen, a company stakeholder. “We’re not big developers. We don’t have the kind of bankroll that other folks may.”
Amicus hopes to open in early 2023. Once opened, Amicus Brewing would become Tallahassee's seventh craft brewery.
Danny Aller, a craft beer enthusiast and Tallahassee Democrat blogger, said its entry downtown would create a much-desired brew district in a 1-mile distance.
In addition to Amicus, there would be Proof Brewing Company on South Monroe Street, just south of the Capitol, Oyster City Brewing on Gaines Street and Fools Fire Brewing Company in the All Saints District.
“It’s the big shot in the arm for downtown,” Aller said. “It turns downtown into a destination part of Tallahassee. Once you go down there, you don’t have to leave.”
28 January, 2022
