Friday, November 16, 2007

Polcyn's new bistro needs your support

Brian Polcyn wants to open a classy bistro in Birmingham, but new City Commissioner George Dilgard has "issues" with it, and voted against it when he was on the Planning Board.

Polcyn's application for a bistro license goes before the City Commission Monday night, and he needs your support.

Polcyn owns Five Lakes Grill in Milford, and used to own Pike Street Restaurant in Pontiac. He is widely known and highly regarded. He wants to put a bistro in the new building at Forest and Elm, behind the new AAA building. It would be the first such establishment in the new Triangle District, and it would give a huge boost to the district. His plan, presented by Birmingham architect Victor Saroki, was supported by five of seven Planning Board members (it passed on a 4-2 vote with supporter Gillian Lazar absent) and the city's Planning Division. But it was opposed by Dilgard and Planning Board member Brian Blaesing.

Dilgard, often a man of few words, did not elaborate on his "issues" with the bistro when the Planning Board considered it in September. He expressed a concern about noise from entertainment, but Saroki said the sound of entertainment would be contained within the building.

Blaesing opposed Polcyn's plan because he thinks bistros should be confined to the downtown, despite the city's adoption of the Triangle District Master Plan, which envisions such uses within the Triangle. He called the neighborhood adjacent to the bistro "fragile" and suggested the bistro would "attack" it.

Neither Dilgard nor Blaesing expressed rational reasons to oppose the bistro, and if Dilgard's opposition carries onto the commission, he should be pressed to elaborate.

Polcyn's plan makes sense for the Triangle District, and it makes sense for the city. It will enhance, not threaten, adjacent properties.

The best way to support the bistro is to show up and speak in support of it Monday night.

If you can't make it to Monday's meeting (7:30 p.m. at City Hall) call or email City Commissioners telling them you support the plan. Click here for their numbers and email addresses.

Also up Monday night is the application for a bistro license from Papa Joe's. Dilgard supported the Joe's application on the Planning Board, and it is less likely to meet opposition.