DDA Recommends Graduate Rooftop Bar Expansion – But Warn of Potential Resistance From City Council

The Downtown Development Authority unanimously recommended the city allow The Graduate hotel be allowed to substantially expand its rooftop bar and patio, but one DDA member warned that developers may face resistance when the proposal goes to City Council for final approval.

The expansion, which was previously recommended by the city’s Planning Commission, would increase the rooftop bar’s maximum occupancy from 96 to 268, a bump of 172 occupants. At the Planning Commission meeting, developers said the building was designed to be able to support the expansion to the rooftop. 

However, recently the City Council declined to allow downtown bar FieldHouse to expand, citing concerns about the number of seats in establishments selling alcohol downtown. When asked by the DDA if he was concerned about this, The Graduate’s General Manager Lee Cote said he was unaware of the potential roadblock.

“To be honest, I’m not super informed on that,” he said. 

Cote said the interior bar itself is not expanding and the outdoor area is often used by people who order food. 

He added that the hotel receives “two or three” calls every week asking if the space can be used for private events, but almost always must turn requests away due to the steady high demand for the area. 

Cote said the expanded rooftop patio will host some private events, and that the proposal also adds a private dining area that will be used exclusively for special events. 

In response to a question about if the expansion would mean The Graduate will hire new employees, Cote responded affirmatively. He estimated that between new bar and restaurant workers and security staff, a dozen new employees would be hired to accommodate the expansion.

If the expansion is eventually approved, it would mean significant growth for one of the city’s popular, new establishments. Cote said that The Graduate often has a line of both people staying in the hotel and locals waiting to use the rooftop space.

“The space has become very popular, some of our hotel guests are coming because they know that they have that rooftop outlet to go experience,” Cote said. “We have many weekends where there’s a line of 15, 20 hotel guests waiting to get in, which kind of dampens their experience of the hotel.”

The DDA unanimously recommended the city approve the expansion, with Mayor George Brookover and City Manager Robert Belleman being recused from the vote. 

DDA votes to buy “spun rocking chairs.”

Spun rocking chairs will soon be downtown for special events, after the DDA voted to spend nearly $4,000 on three of the chairs. 

Spun rocking chairs look similar to cotton reels and spin 360 degrees on their axis. They would be deployed in the blocked off Albert El Fresco area during the weekly live music and game night events, as well as other staffed events. 

While some members expressed concern about the price, others said it is an opportunity to help downtown visitors create memories that they will share with others.

“It’s not adding chairs, it’s adding an experience downtown,” DDA member Justin Hewson said, adding that his kids enjoy the chairs. This YouTube video displays how the chairs work. 

When asked if he is concerned about potential liability with the chairs, DDA Attorney Anthony Chubb said he is not. 

The DDA voted to purchase the chairs, with Brookover being the lone vote against.