News
Apr 21 2010
Old Athens opera house reaches a Crossroads
Planners approve renaissance with brewing company
The rebirth and reimagining of the 1893 Brooks Opera House has been officially approved by village planners, paving the way for a fresh, new destination in Greene County: The Crossroads Brewing Company.
Ken Landin and Janine Bennett have endeavored to revitalize the dilapidated and crumbling opera house, once a pillar of the quaint Athens community, into something the village can be proud of once more.
The village planning board unanimously approved the first phase of the three-story 15,000-square-foot structure’s transformation into the Crossroads Brewing Company, which will feature an 80-seat restaurant, a 46-foot bar and a fully-functional brewery, all on the ground level. The brewery is slated for opening in June or July, with the restaurant opening in fall.
“In a small village like this you have to become a destination,” said Landin, a contractor, formerly a resident of Queens who has lived in Athens for the past 18 years, “and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The impressive brick building — complete with bell tower — is located at the corner of Second and Franklin streets and will be restored to its historical appearance, resembling the time when it served as the community’s cultural nucleus.
“We’re trying to reuse as much as we can,” said Bennett, “even if it takes days to pull the nails out of a piece of wood, we reuse it.”
Each level of the structure is being completed in phases. The first level — the restaurant, the bar, the brewery — is phase one. The expansive second level, the space once used as an opera and theater venue, is part of the project’s second phase.
Bennett, formerly of Wappingers Falls, said the theater venue is part of the restoration plan. She hopes it can once again host community events, including music and theatrical performances. The rebirth, though, will be costly given the 100 years of wear from its former lives as a clothing sweatshop, a basketball arena, a billiard hall, a recreation center, a movie theater, a barber shop, and more. Ceilings will have to be replaced and flooring will have to be restored.
Bennett recalled find hundreds, perhaps thousands, of button snaps on the dusty floors, along with “dumpsters and dumpsters full of garbage.”
On the exterior, the intricate corbels and cornices are in the process of being restored — by local craftsmen — and the roofing will be replaced by a recycled material which resembles the color, texture and shape of the original slate tiles. History will even be repeated right down to the windows and the original brown and yellow paint scheme.
At the moment, Bennett and Landin are uncertain of what will become of the third floor. There has been some speculation on creating a luxury penthouse or even a Crossroads staff bunkroom — but neither of those suppositions are being acted on just yet. One thing’s for sure, the bright third floor offers a wonderful view of the Hudson River and Athens’ historic district.
The building has come a long way from state of neglect several months ago. Now it is bustling with activity. All because of one fateful walk after dinner at Cameo’s.
“We had just had dinner at Cameo’s,” said Landin, “and we were walking up Second Street and saw the for sale sign in the window.”
Until that seemingly innocent stroll, which led to a momentus phone call, Landin had searched five years for a location.
“When you know, you just know,” said Bennett, who was with Landin that evening in 2009.
Landin said he looked into settling in Columbia County sites, but the delays and the bureaucratic red tape were too much to bear.
Ultimately, his hometown came through and now he hopes to provide a unique service to the community, while revitalizing business in the area.
So far, local and county governments have supported the project. With the county legislature offering a $240,000 Quantum Fund loan and the Bank of Greene County offering financing. A federally-backed Community Development Block Grant has also been awarded to the project at a sum of $216,000. All for the sake of commerce and the hope its brew will be a draw for the region.
The plan for the beer Crossroad produces, Landin said, is for distribution within a 125-mile radius — and beyond. Perhaps Crossroads drinkers will then one day visit the historic setting from which it is brewed — at least, that’s the hope.
Master brewer Charles Noll, of Western New York, will bring his 12 years of brewing expertise to Crossroads’ beers, creating a unique product all its own.
Bennett and Landin will use their years of craft brew marketing experience to sell their product to local restaurants and bars, as well as distributors.
The restaurant is also expected to bring new jobs to the community, which local officials couldn’t be more pleased about. The dining aspect will have to wait until the fall, however.
Starting this spring, if things go as planned and the federal and state licensing is approved on time, residents and visitors can enjoy freshly brewed ales and lagers, while being offered a tour and watching the whole process from a glass observation room. Kegs and 64-ounce growlers will be available when the brewery opens.
Parking, which has been an object of contention in the village, will be provided in the Rivertown Senior Center parking lot from 5:30 p.m. till morning. The planning board had requested parking arrangements be made, and the senior center, operated by the Greene County Department of Aging, has entered into a liability agreement with the brewery.
Landin said he will continue to seek out other parking opportunities and hopes the village government will investigate other municipal parking options. Parking on Second Street and other areas of the village are expected to accommodate until then.
Parking aside, officials and the brewery’s owners couldn’t be happier with the progress and the support from the county and the community-at-large has been overwhelming.
“The Greene County IDA has been instrumental in helping this project,” said Landin. “Everyone has been very receptive. We are giving the building back to the community.”
News, photographs, directions and background information on Bennett, Landin and Noll are available online at www.crossroadsbrewingco.com.
Ken Landin and Janine Bennett have endeavored to revitalize the dilapidated and crumbling opera house, once a pillar of the quaint Athens community, into something the village can be proud of once more.
The village planning board unanimously approved the first phase of the three-story 15,000-square-foot structure’s transformation into the Crossroads Brewing Company, which will feature an 80-seat restaurant, a 46-foot bar and a fully-functional brewery, all on the ground level. The brewery is slated for opening in June or July, with the restaurant opening in fall.
“In a small village like this you have to become a destination,” said Landin, a contractor, formerly a resident of Queens who has lived in Athens for the past 18 years, “and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The impressive brick building — complete with bell tower — is located at the corner of Second and Franklin streets and will be restored to its historical appearance, resembling the time when it served as the community’s cultural nucleus.
“We’re trying to reuse as much as we can,” said Bennett, “even if it takes days to pull the nails out of a piece of wood, we reuse it.”
Each level of the structure is being completed in phases. The first level — the restaurant, the bar, the brewery — is phase one. The expansive second level, the space once used as an opera and theater venue, is part of the project’s second phase.
Bennett, formerly of Wappingers Falls, said the theater venue is part of the restoration plan. She hopes it can once again host community events, including music and theatrical performances. The rebirth, though, will be costly given the 100 years of wear from its former lives as a clothing sweatshop, a basketball arena, a billiard hall, a recreation center, a movie theater, a barber shop, and more. Ceilings will have to be replaced and flooring will have to be restored.
Bennett recalled find hundreds, perhaps thousands, of button snaps on the dusty floors, along with “dumpsters and dumpsters full of garbage.”
On the exterior, the intricate corbels and cornices are in the process of being restored — by local craftsmen — and the roofing will be replaced by a recycled material which resembles the color, texture and shape of the original slate tiles. History will even be repeated right down to the windows and the original brown and yellow paint scheme.
At the moment, Bennett and Landin are uncertain of what will become of the third floor. There has been some speculation on creating a luxury penthouse or even a Crossroads staff bunkroom — but neither of those suppositions are being acted on just yet. One thing’s for sure, the bright third floor offers a wonderful view of the Hudson River and Athens’ historic district.
The building has come a long way from state of neglect several months ago. Now it is bustling with activity. All because of one fateful walk after dinner at Cameo’s.
“We had just had dinner at Cameo’s,” said Landin, “and we were walking up Second Street and saw the for sale sign in the window.”
Until that seemingly innocent stroll, which led to a momentus phone call, Landin had searched five years for a location.
“When you know, you just know,” said Bennett, who was with Landin that evening in 2009.
Landin said he looked into settling in Columbia County sites, but the delays and the bureaucratic red tape were too much to bear.
Ultimately, his hometown came through and now he hopes to provide a unique service to the community, while revitalizing business in the area.
So far, local and county governments have supported the project. With the county legislature offering a $240,000 Quantum Fund loan and the Bank of Greene County offering financing. A federally-backed Community Development Block Grant has also been awarded to the project at a sum of $216,000. All for the sake of commerce and the hope its brew will be a draw for the region.
The plan for the beer Crossroad produces, Landin said, is for distribution within a 125-mile radius — and beyond. Perhaps Crossroads drinkers will then one day visit the historic setting from which it is brewed — at least, that’s the hope.
Master brewer Charles Noll, of Western New York, will bring his 12 years of brewing expertise to Crossroads’ beers, creating a unique product all its own.
Bennett and Landin will use their years of craft brew marketing experience to sell their product to local restaurants and bars, as well as distributors.
The restaurant is also expected to bring new jobs to the community, which local officials couldn’t be more pleased about. The dining aspect will have to wait until the fall, however.
Starting this spring, if things go as planned and the federal and state licensing is approved on time, residents and visitors can enjoy freshly brewed ales and lagers, while being offered a tour and watching the whole process from a glass observation room. Kegs and 64-ounce growlers will be available when the brewery opens.
Parking, which has been an object of contention in the village, will be provided in the Rivertown Senior Center parking lot from 5:30 p.m. till morning. The planning board had requested parking arrangements be made, and the senior center, operated by the Greene County Department of Aging, has entered into a liability agreement with the brewery.
Landin said he will continue to seek out other parking opportunities and hopes the village government will investigate other municipal parking options. Parking on Second Street and other areas of the village are expected to accommodate until then.
Parking aside, officials and the brewery’s owners couldn’t be happier with the progress and the support from the county and the community-at-large has been overwhelming.
“The Greene County IDA has been instrumental in helping this project,” said Landin. “Everyone has been very receptive. We are giving the building back to the community.”
News, photographs, directions and background information on Bennett, Landin and Noll are available online at www.crossroadsbrewingco.com.
