Planning Commission Unanimously Recommends Rooftop Expansion for The Graduate

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended the Graduate Hotel’s proposal to expand its rooftop bar and dining area, which would greatly increase its maximum occupancy.

If the proposal is eventually approved by City Council, the expansion will increase the maximum occupancy from 96, between the indoor and outdoor area, to 268.

Lee Cote, the general manager of the hotel, represented The Graduate at the Wednesday, July 9 Planning Commission meeting.

A photo showing outdoor seating and the glass railing at The Graduate hotel, taken in 2021. (ELi file photo)

Cote explained that the busy hotel cannot always accommodate guests requests with the current bar space, sometimes resorting to turning customers away or creating queues.

“In part, the expansion of the space would be to satisfy that need, to make sure that not just our hotel guests, but locals and visitors have the ability to enjoy the space.” Cote said.

The proposed expansion also includes a private dining area, another demand the Graduate has had difficulty fulfilling.

“It is very common that we’ll get phone calls twice a week, ‘I was at Graduation. I had a fantastic time. I would love to host a private birthday party or a private graduation dinner,’” Cote said. “But because of our current occupancy and how busy the space currently is, it is very rare that we can find a time during normal business hours to make that work.”

Details of the proposed expansion to The Graduate rooftop bar and dining area. (From meeting agenda)

Also representing The Graduate was Dave Schlensker, an architect with SCB Architects, who originally designed the hotel and has worked on the renovations. Schlensker said the roof was originally designed with the possibility of expansion taken into account, so the building can structurally accommodate the plan.

A condition for approval was added to increase height of the glass railing around the outdoor area to 54 inches, after the safety precaution was recommended by ELPD Lt. Adrian Ojerio.

The commission raised concerns about the increased strain on parking downtown. Cote said the hotel is still working on the best solution for parking, and hopes to have an answer within a few months.

The increased alcohol service also drew apprehension from the commission, but Cote reassured commissioners that The Graduate has high security standards, adequate staff training and increased personnel on game days and weekends.

”We currently carry a very strong reputation as not, you know, ‘the college bar,’ not a place where someone underage is going to attempt to present a fake ID,” Cote said.

Recently, City Council rejected a request from Field House sports bar to expand, in part because some City Council members did not want to add more seats to bars in the downtown area. However, council did recently grant a planned Indian-style pizza restaurant permission to sell alcohol after the developer stressed that the restaurant will be family-centric.

With the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission in hand, the proposal will go to City Council for a public hearing, possibly as early as Aug. 12.