Play Birmingham Heads Back to Drawing Board

The plans were ambitious, but after a long fight at the , Play Birmingham is going back to the drawing board.

After a contentious discussion, commissioners voted down the final site plans and special land use permit for the proposed entertainment center, with commissioners Tom McDaniel, Stuart Sherman, Rackeline Hoff and Mayor Pro Tem Mark Nickita voting against.

After much back-and-forth, it ultimately came down to a good idea being in the wrong place.

Play Birmingham, a game/restaurant retail concept, hoped to fill 25,000 square feet at 270 N. Old Woodward. The complex would fill the former Buca di Beppo location on North Old Woodward, the basement beneath Chen Chow and an empty unit around the corner on Hamilton Row. All three spaces would be connected.

The concept would be a high-end entertainment and restaurant facility that offers something for everyone, owners said. The complex would have a restaurant and sweet shop, an eight-lane bowling alley, four pool tables and a gaming center with electronic golf, darts and basketball.

“This is a proven mix of entertainment, games … a place that’s in an entertainment building and utilizes a lower level,” said Ron Jona, a Southfield-based architect who, alongside Dali Restaurant Group founder Eric Doelle, is behind the plans. “It brings charm to a downtown area that normally you would have to level buildings to achieve.”

However, with a capacity for 500 people and the busy  next door, the consent among commissioners Monday night was that it was too much for that location, with too much potential for trouble.

Controversy over congestion

Plans for Play Birmingham first came before the planning board Feb. 22, but the hearing was pushed back so Jona and Doelle could collect information on crowd control. However, even when , several board members expressed similar concerns on one topic: congestion.

According to Jona, the complex would have a staggered closing schedule. People under 18 would be asked to leave at 9 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent, the bowling alley and gaming center would close at midnight, while the restaurant and bar would close at 2 a.m.

The planning board interviewed Police Chief Don Studt at the time, during which he said he doesn’t foresee many major problems with the complex. The intersection has few accidents, he said, the area is monitored by surveillance cameras and most of the loitering outside the theater now is “just kids being kids.”

However, several commissioners weren’t convinced the location is right.

“We can’t continue to overload that circuit,” McDaniel said, referring to the stretch of Hamilton Row with the Palladium 12 and . Already, the sidewalks are packed in the evening and Hamilton Row is oftentimes backed up with buses and cars dropping off teenagers at the movies.

“At this location, I think it’s asking for trouble,” Hoff said.

Nickita and Sherman had other concerns. According to Nickita, that block was envisioned to be a mix of businesses. However, he said it's become an entertainment district and giving Play Birmingham the go-ahead would be against the intent of the special land use permit.

For Sherman, it was less about the business and more about the owners. “A great concept requires a great operator,” Sherman said. “I have great concerns moving forward with this operator,” referring to the Dali Group, which has run into problems with the commission . The group also owns the Hamilton Room and .

Going back to the drawing board

For Jona and Play Birmingham’s supporters, the vote was frustrating on many levels.

Robert Carson, speaking on behalf of the building’s owners, reminded commissioners that the only reason Play Birmingham was before them was because of the special land use permit. However, only the electronic games and pool tables require the special permit. Without them, Carson said, the group could move forward without commission approval.

"If the commission wants to kill the project ... because pool tables and electronic games won't be allowed ... I don't think this is the right thing to do," he said.

Jona contended Play Birmingham would be good for Birmingham, bringing visitors downtown and giving residents something to do. “It’s a great downtown, but there’s not a lot of activity,” he said. “Removing those vacancies will make it more vibrant.”

Commissioner Scott Moore agreed. “I think Birmingham needs to offer more than restaurants and niche retail.”

Still, Play Birmingham couldn’t get the votes it needed. Since commission has now voted down the special land use permit, Play Birmingham can return to the planning board without the pool tables and games. However, despite the vote, Mayor Gordon Rinschler assured Play Birmingham representatives this isn’t the end.

“This project can still move forward even if the (special land use permit) is turn down.”