By Greg Ellison

(July 22, 2021) Berlin’s Historic District Commission approved extending fencing behind the Globe Theatre and renovating a drive-up window at Mother Flowers during its meeting last Wednesday.

Globe fence

Globe Gastro Theatre General Manager Joe McElroy was given permission to remove, update and extend existing fencing along Gay Street.

Both safety and aesthetic concerns are related to exterior renovations for the Globe located at 12 Broad Street.

“With the amount of traffic I have in that back area, and because of the heat, sunlight and overall look … I wanted to improve on it,” he said.

McElroy said the revamp would bring the west side of the Globe building up to par with several adjacent properties on Gay Street, which have been revamped in recent years.

Using the Ocean City watering hole Bull on the Beach on 94th Street as a reference model, McElroy proposed installing a six-foot slotted fence.

“We’ll be able to capitalize on all that space back there,” he said.

Last June, the Historic District Commission approved a request from McElroy for an outdoor dining space next to Gay Street

Bryan and Nicole Brushmiller, who also own Burley Oak Brewing Company, bought the Globe in November 2019 and completed a host of renovations.

McElroy also asked about installing an awning to shade an ice machine, HVAC unit and walk-in cooler.

Among the updates performed on the Globe was removing an existing outdoor shed to repurpose the concrete pad for a walk-in cooler to boost kitchen workspace.

McElroy asked the commission to provide style suggestions for the proposed awning, with his primary focus on functionality.

“It’s just to keep it out of the sun,” he said. “My problem is that there was the same ice machine at the brewery and the socket overheated because there’s no fail safe on those machines.”

He said the results of that could have been disastrous, had staff members failed to notice the equipment malfunction.

“The brewery could have burnt down,” he said.

Commission member Norman Bunting said selecting the correct awning appearance is no small task.

“It’s a big ordeal for us to determine what fits the era of the building,” he said. “Is it a true necessity there?”

McElroy said, while the type of awning material or design parameters are still open to conjecture, coverage needs exist to keep electrified equipment from exposure to heat and moisture.

Commission member Laura Stearns asked if the proposed fencing would match adjacent properties.

McElroy said the intent would be for replacement fencing to replicate the raw wood used at neighboring businesses on Gay Street, such as the Buzz Meadery.

Bunting said the privacy fencing would be relatively easy to remove if future needs changed.

“I think it’s a great idea to cover that up as best we can,” he said.

Committee Chair Carol Rose said more design details would be needed for the proposed awning, with the fencing request the only issue currently under consideration.

Bunting concurred and recommended McElroy revisit the commission at a later meeting, while also suggesting looking at other Main Street business awnings for design possibilities.

“We would need to see exactly what the awning is going to look like,” he said.

The Historic District Commission voted unanimously to approve the fencing update, with McElroy agreeing to return with awning details at its next meeting.

Mother Flowers

Hunter Smith, who runs Mother Flowers at 2 Bay St., was granted approval to replace an existing bulletproof glass window at the former PNC Bank site.

“It’s very thick,” she said.

In March, Smith received approval from the Historic District Commission to revamp the previous PNC bank drive-in area to establish an enclosed spot to retail local flowers and produce.

Smith proposed installing custom fit sliding glass panes in the former teller window.

“The custom window would have two separate panels that slide open,” she said.

Smith said the service window would allow Mother Flowers to retail prepackaged beverages.

“We have a refrigerator in there and want to sell lemonade, water and tea,” she said.

Heating and air conditioning units inside the location would also provide refuge from temperature extremes in summer and winter, Smith said.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the window renovation.