Republic file photo An exterior view of Bucceto’s Smiling Teeth Pizza and Pasta in The Commons in downtown Columbus.
The Commons Board has voted unanimously to approve structural changes to the tenant space formerly occupied by Bucceto’s for a new Upland Brewing Company pizza restaurant.
Bucceto’s informed the Columbus Redevelopment Commission it would not be renewing its lease in January 2023.
The Commons Board has a master lease with the redevelopment commission for the four tenant spaces in The Commons and the commission voted to authorize President Al Roszczyk to execute the lease with Upland once it is ready.
Because Upland is proposing modifications to the facade of The Commons, Director of Redevelopment Heather Pope said that falls outside of redevelopment’s purview and therefore had to come before the Commons Board for approval.
The initial lease term is for seven years with four options for five-year renewal at an increase of 5% each term, according to Pope. The yearly income generated for the Commons will be $30,820.
Upland officials said they expect to invest close to $1 million into the project and also expressed interest in an additional Commons tenant space currently used as offices.
The new pizza place, tentatively named “Black Sheep Craft Pizza,” will have a new main entrance through an exterior door off of Fourth Street, plus a garage door, known as a Renlita door, on Washington Street that on nice days will flip up and allow those on the street to purchase drinks from the Upland bar.
Upland officials said they hope to have more seating on the Fourth Street side and that the Washington Street side would serve as an outdoor area for hanging out with a fire pit.
Commons Board member Tracy Souza said the Office of Downtown Development had been pursuing a recommendation to establish part of downtown Columbus as a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) that would enable the public to buy alcoholic beverages from somewhere like the future outdoor Upland bar on Washington Street and carry them around.
City Council liaison Grace Kestler chimed in that the establishment of a DORA is “perceived highly by the city council.”
The bottom of the Renlita door will be a stained black teak material, which Upland said they would maintain.
The look of the door would stand out compared to the rest of The Commons, something Upland is seeking in order to draw attention to their restaurant. A recommendation from Steve Risting of atelierRisting, who Pope described as The Commons’ “on-site architect” in the past, was that the finish should match the clear anodized look of The Commons or be silver.
The board went ahead and approved the black trim design and black teak lower portion for the Renlita door, along with a recommendation by Risting regarding the extension of the bar top to comply with ADA guidelines. They also approved the new exterior door on Fourth Street.
Another element discussed at length dealt with whether the one HVAC system that powers The Commons would be sufficient to successfully regulate the heating and cooling of the space considering the addition of the Renlita door that would open up to the elements, potentially altering conditions inside.
The board agreed upon an understanding that those from Dunlap & Company Inc. and the Parks and Recreation Department would work on any outstanding concerns regarding the HVAC system.
Upland’s Ryan Moravec said once demolition on the space starts, the pizza restaurant would be ready to open within four months.
