Major Rehab Of Guru's Building Clears Another Hurdle In Newtown

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Plans to rehabilitate the former Guru’s building at Sycamore and Jefferson streets received a nod of approval Tuesday night from the township’s planning commission.

In a unanimous vote, the planners recommended that the board of supervisors remain neutral on a request for zoning relief by the building's new owner who plans to rehabilitate the structure and turn it into a new restaurant use.

In July, building owner Adam Baratta and his team of professionals will be asking the zoning board for relief from parking requirements and for permission to enclose an existing deck area as part of his plans to restore the building.

Baratta said the hope and the goal is to bring the building back to its “most historic character.” And he's working with renown Bucks County architect Ralph Fey and county historian Jeffrey Marshall to make that happen.

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“(Adam) has a vision for the revitalization of the property that is unparalleled and candidly will transform that property into an attraction as opposed to an eyesore,” land use attorney Joe Blackburn told the planners Tuesday night. “That renovation includes interior as well. As bad as the outside looks, the inside is 100 times worse. It is functionally obsolete and wildly non-compliant to today’s standards. It requires a lot of work.”

An addition to the building adds a main entrance vestibele (far left), a second floor outdoor dining area, and encloses the existing outdoor deck. (Courtesy of Ralph Fey Architects)

(Courtesy of Ralph Fey Architects)

Blackburn said they will be asking the zoning board for relief to enclose an existing patio area, not to add more seating, but to maintain seating in the new restaurant.

In 2011, Blackburn said an application was submitted by the former owner to build a deck area for outdoor dining. The zoning board approved the request subject to a condition that it never be enclosed.

At the time, Blackburn said there were 170 seats contemplated. “What we’re asking for is an amendment, which is necessary to recapture seats that are being cannibalized with ADA compliant bathrooms and a kitchen that has a working exhaust system, both of which take space" and seats away from the restaurant.

In addition, they are seeking a parking variance to create a vestibule - a designated entrance - to bring the building into compliance. The proposed 92 square foot vestibule building addition facing the parking would become the new entrance to the building.

In order to accommodate the new vestibule, Blackburn said they will lose five parking spaces, which requires them to obtain a variance for parking.

Blackburn said without the improvements they have 45 parking spaces on site, 28 on street parking spaces in the immediate area and a deeded easement that allows them to use 19 spaces at a neighboring dental office property. That brings the total to 93.

"Even with the reduction of that number by five, we still have 88 spaces which is adequate for a 170 seat restaurant," Blackburn told the planners.

With that said, Blackburn said the owner plans to implement a valet service that would make maximum use of the available parking. They are also in active conversations with nearby property owners to secure additional off street parking.

The entirety of the parking lot will be repaved and striped to maintain the 41 parking spaces on site, said Blackburn.

The planners reacted with enthusiasm to the plans, especially the effort being made by the owner to restore the property, including the use of HARB-approved materials. They voted to recommend the supervisors not take a position on the requests for zoning relief.

“It’s beautiful,” said planning commission chairwoman Peggy Driscoll. “It’s going to be such an improvement to Sycamore Street. We’re very excited to see that building rehabilitated. It’s been an eyesore for a long time on Sycamore Street,” she said.

The Restaurant Concept

The planners did ask if the owner had announced the restaurant concept for the site, to which Blackburn said, “I don’t know if he knows. I told him not to do Italian or Italian fusion. He has a number of restaurants in California so he’s aware of the concepts that are out there."

During a meeting with HARB, Baratta, a partner in a number of successful restaurants in California, said that while he’s not ready to announce the restaurant concept being planned for the space, the goal is to bring a level of hospitality that is at its highest level.

“I’m not a restaurant operator, but I am someone who understands hospitality. The goal is to bring a beautiful experience that’s accessible, but at the same time at a high level," he said.

White Hall Bar

During public comment, Newtown historian Susan Thompson asked about a bar that had been relocated from the White Hall Hotel in Newtown Borough years ago to the Township House, which eventually became Guru's, and whether it could be saved.

Blackburn said the bar that had been in Guru's was not the same bar from the White Hall, according to research done by historian Jeffrey Marshall. “It is not the bar from the old White Hall. It has long since not been that bar,” he said.

After the building was built in the 1820s or 1830s, it was home to a notorious tavern and then later used as the J.B. Wentworth General Merchandise store. It also served briefly as a school.

In more recent years the building was known as the Township House, a local restaurant and bar, and then the Saloon before becoming Guru’s Indian Cuisine.

The request for zoning relief for the project next goes to the township supervisors for consideration. It will then head to the zoning hearing board for a decision.