Fist-pumping Funeral Home
Not so fast: Vegas-style funeral home bar could be blocked by no-alcohol deedrestriction
Construction is already underway at 3320 Kirby, but there could be snags in theplan.Photo by Caroline Gallay
A record search shows that permits have not been approved for the bar complexyet.
Photo by Caroline Gallay
It might be true that no variances are being sought ("variance" referring to an attempt to get a project special exception from a specific city regulation), but permits have certainly not been issued for the conversion of the former Settegast Kopf funeral home at 3320 Kirby into a complex of bars and clubs.
CultureMap first reported on the plans to convert the long-abandoned space as well as the bank building next door into at least four separately-leased bars. And on Monday, developer and City Planning Commission member Blake Tartt told CultureMap that owners Jeff Barati and Andy Aweida, also the proprietors of Taps, Kobain and Nox, already had their permits.
A record search shows otherwise, and to add further obstacle to the project, CultureMap has obtained an e-mail sent to the City of Houston's director of planning and development Marlene Gafrick, Mayor Annise Parker, City Council members and the City Attorney saying that the property — called the David Crockett Addition — has a deed restriction that disallows the sale of alcohol on the premises.
An excerpt of the e-mail, which was sent by a nearby resident, reads:
"[We] request that you defend the deed restrictions of the David Crockett Addition as described in Volume 1950, page 60 - 68 of the Harris County Deed records, by refusing to permit the construction of any facility for such use on any property located in the David Crockett addition. The restriction reads: 'No spirituous, vinous, or malt or medicated bitters capable of producing intoxication shall ever be sold, or offered for sale, on said premises, or any part thereof.' "
It also remains to be seen whether the City of Houston will require the owners to submit a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) for the property, which can be required if a significant increase in the number of trips to the site is predicted.
Chapter 15 of the Public Works Department Design Manual says a developer can be required to submit a TIA and obtain city approval if any changes have been made to the site plan or to original traffic impact assumptions related to land-use, where revisions would be required for an increase in trips to the site.
From an abandoned funeral home to a complex drawing 2,000 club-goers per night, we'd venture to predict an increase in site visits to 3320 Kirby.
